Buffon votes for Pirlo in FIFA Golden Ball poll

Juventus' Andrea Pirlo controls the ball during their Italian Serie A soccer match against Livorno at the Armando Picchi stadium in Livorno, Nov 24, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

ROME - Veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon disclosed that he had voted for Juventus and Italy teammate Andrea Pirlo in this year's FIFA Golden Ball poll.

Buffon, as captain of his national side, is entitled to name three players as candidates for the FIFA prestigious award. He placed Pirlo as his first candidate in his vote.

"I voted for, in order, Pirlo, Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Barcelona's Lionel Messi," Buffon said.

Pirlo is named among the 23 players for the FIFA Golden Ball poll, and the shortlist that will be reduced to three on December 9 and the winner will be announced in January.

Following are the 23 players for the FIFA Golden Ball poll:

Gareth Bale (Wales), Edinson Cavani (Uruguay), Radamel Falcao (Colombia), Eden Hazard (Belgium), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Robert Lewandowski (Poland), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Muller (Germany), Manuel Neuer (Germany), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Franck Ribery (France), Arjen Robben (Netherlands), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Luis Suarez (Uruguay), Thiago Silva (Brazil), Yaya Toure (Cote d'Ivoire), Robin Van Persie (Netherlands), Xavi (Spain).