Leo Messi is in contention for an unprecedented fifth Ballon d'Or after inspiring Barcelona to the treble last season. He is up against Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, the winner of the award for the last two years, and Barça teammate Neymar.

Former 'Azulgranas' midfielder Xavi believes that Messi should scoop the accolade in Zurich on 11th January and that the Argentine and Ronaldo are still on another level to Neymar, despite the Brazilian's rapid progress in recent times.

However, the 35-year-old feels the ex-Santos forward and the other member of Barça's lethal MSN strike force, Luis Suárez, could both be Ballon d'Or material in the future. As he put it in an interview with FIFA.com, "Cristiano and Messi are still a cut above, but other players can come into it too, like Neymar and Luis Suárez".