FIFA Ballon d'Or 2015

The field of contenders has been narrowed down and the final shortlist has been revealed. The following three players remain in the running for the prestigious FIFA Ballon d’Or 2015. Join us for the official ceremony on 11 January 2016 to find out which of these three stars will be handed the coveted award and recognized as the best individual talent for the past year in world football.

• Cristiano Ronaldo

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  PORTUGAL
• After winning the third FIFA Ballon d’Or of his career at the start of 2015,  Cristiano Ronaldo continued to perform at his very best, racking up the goals to end the league season as its highest scorer with 48 in all, his biggest haul in Spain to date. He very nearly ended the UEFA Champions League season as its leading marksmen as well, tying with Lionel Messi on ten goals but serving up fewer assists. Cristiano nevertheless etched his name in the Real Madrid history books by becoming the club’s leading all-time scorer, eclipsing fellow Blancolegends Alfredo Di Stefano and Raul. The Portuguese also enjoyed a productive year on the international front, skippering A Seleçao das Quinas to direct qualification for UEFA EURO 2016, a relief for him and his team-mates following three consecutive appearances in EURO and World Cup play-offs.

• Lionel MESSI

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  ARGENTINA
• The Argentinian star recaptured the form and sharpness that has brought him four FIFA Ballons d’Or to date. Barcelona’s leading marksman in the league with 43 goals, he fired his side to yet another title and also top-scored in their victorious UEFA Champions League campaign, contributing ten goals and six assists. One of the highlights of another hugely productive season came in the Copa del Rey final win over Athletic Bilbao, with Messi slaloming his way past several opponents on a long, mazy run before conjuring up a clinical finish inside the box. The elusive forward also played a decisive part in Argentina’s run to the final of the Copa America Chile 2015, serving up three assists, the joint-highest tally in the competition along with Chile’s Jorge Valdivia.

• NEYMAR

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  BRAZIL
• Coming into his own in his second season with Barcelona, Neymar consolidated his position as one third of a lethal three-pronged attack. Following the shining example set by Lionel Messi, the Brazilian was his side’s second-highest scorer in their league, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League treble-winning campaign, contributing 39 goals in 51 matches. Troubled by injury in his debut year, Neymar wasBarça’s third-most used player in the league last season. Now 23, he is keen to continue making history with his club, commenting after their UEFA Super Cup win that he has changed his game and his way of life. A devilish dribbler and deadly finisher, the gifted forward has for the last two years been the star act of a Brazil side that is now looking to rebuild after its FIFA World Cup™ woes on home soil in 2014. 

For more information visit the Fifa website here: http://www.fifa.com/ballon-dor/index.html

Get the Official merchandise on www.prosoccer.co.za

ITALY 2015 AWAY KIT BY PUMA

Ahead of another busy week of European Qualifying fixtures PUMA have unveiled the new look away strip for the Italian National Team which will be worn for the first time when they take on Malta in Florence tomorrow night.

We're barley a month into the new domestic season and we're already looking ahead to Euro 2016 and how Italy will look should they qualify of course. The new away kit features an Italian flag inspired sublimation print stripe that reaches all the way from the collar to the hem, with a 3D badge bedded into the stripe to complete the look. The tailored blue collar is met by a blue mesh form stripe on the shoulders along with that majestic official PUMA font, exclusively designed for the Italian jersey. We've got a lot of time for the squad number on the left side of the chest, looks smart.

Strong Italian cultural influences inspire the design and PUMA are sure to have another of the hottest kits on show in France next summer should the boys do the business on pitch and book a place at Euro 2016. Fewer nations and brands have such a connection as PUMA and Italy and they've whipped up a wardrobe of killer designs for previous tournaments and that Italian flag running down the middle of the shirt is pushing all the right buttons for us.

Magnifico? Let us know below. Pick one up here if you're feeling it.

10R'S CROSSBAR CHALLENGE

The crossbar challenge will never go out fashion. A decade on from one of the greatest football viral videos in history, Nike and Ronaldinho are back together hitting crossbars.

'Play more. Get more. You never know who might turn up.' That's the message from Nike as they surprised one lucky pick-up game in Rio de Janeiro with the great man. The former Barcelona play-maker, who Nike are saluting with a new version of his signature Tiempo on Sept. 2, made sure one lucky youngster beat the queue after winning a signed pair of the white and gold boots in a crossbar challenge set by R10 himself.

Of course, Ronaldinho didn't leave without doing his party trick as he hit the crossbar with an audacious rabona flick wearing his own pair of Nike Tiempo Legend "Touch of Gold" boots. They're so damn beautiful.

ARSENAL 15/16 THIRD KIT BY PUMA

PUMA complete their 2015/16 Arsenal replica collection with the new third kit to be worn in away cup matches this season as the Gunners look to retain their FA Cup and make a big impression in the Champions League.

Wrapping up their kit offerings after the Home and Away releases in June and July PUMA reveal a shirt that features a modern interpretation of a classic football sash, a diagonal stripe across the chest and a design not too dissimilar from the current Newcastle away strip. The colour combination sees PUMA opt for White, Victory Gold and Capri Breeze Blue on an overall anthracite base with PUMA’s classic Form Strip as a mesh panel on the sleeves.

The Victory Gold colouring is what ties all three 2015/16 Arsenal jerseys together and is complimented by gold PUMA cat logos and both sleeves as well as an all gold Arsenal logo on the opposite side. A classic V-neck template provides the finishing touches on a shirt that sticks to a similar design as the 2014/15 third jersey.

The new Arsenal 2015/16 3rd Shirt is available at selected online stockists including Pro Soccer SA. What you saying Gooners? Drop your comments below.

MAN UNITED AWAY 15/16 BY ADIDAS

Reignited, reunited. The most anticipated replica collaboration of the season was always going to be the reintroduction of Man United and adidas as the famous Three Stripes returned to the red half of Manchester and after the initial home shirt reveal adidas return with an away offering inspired by legendary teams from seasons past.

Quickly following in the steps of the 2015/16 Home Shirt adidas opt for a classic white template, a design worn by the successful Busby teams of the 1960s. Switching the dominant colours from the home shirt adidas run three red stripes down the shoulders of the away strip which features a traditional V-neck collar and graphic design on the hem of the shirt taken from the 1990 shirt famously worn by Ryan Giggs in his debut season.

adidas have revisited the 1980s archive by bringing both classic red and white kits back once more, taking familiar style features that were popular with the Stretford End and combining them with the latest performance technologies to produce modern classics. The new away shirt will be debuted in the Premier League's first ever Friday night fixture on the 14th August when Man United travel to Aston Villa looking to build on their opening day victory at Old Trafford against Spurs.

The Manchester United 15/16 Away Shirt is available from selected online stockists including Pro Soccer SA from Aug 14. United fans, what you saying? Drop your comments below.

ADIDAS & MAN UNITED 2015/16 HOME KIT

Reuniting the three stripes with the might of football force, adidas and Manchester United have unveiled their 2015/16 Home kit.

The start of a 10 year contract, it is a landmark moment for the world of football kits as the club release an iconic shirt that will be a prized possession to many of its 659 million fans. A gargantuan number, the club and brand turned back the clock to celebrate a re-born legacy that began in the 1980s whilst inspire innovation with this kit.

Reengineered to feature the latest technological performance enhancements from the brand, this shirt is very much seen as a modern classic. Lightweight and breathable, it will debut on the pitch in just a matter of days as the 2015/16 Premier League season draws closer.

A classic v-neck collar meets those momentus three stripes, there are a number of subtle touches to this kit that set it apart from rivals. Nods to the past and embracing the game, style is very much on the table. Rightly so from a club based in a city so culturally rich.

Launched as part of adidas' 'Break Expectations' campaign, for Manchester United, the imagery and short films are inspired by the famous trident that sits at the heart of the club as part of the crest it's a powerful re-introduction of the brand. A future that will in no doubts provide much creative flair, the kits have been released to widespread appreciation so far. On the pitch is where the team will do the talking and they're certainly equipped to look the part.

The 2015/16 adidas Manchester United kit is available now from online retailers including Pro Soccer SA.

CHELSEA AWAY 15/16 BY ADIDAS

adidas have unveiled the new away strip for Chelsea to defend their Premier League title on the road next season. 

adidas have stuck to a three-way colour design that Chelsea have used on numerous classic white away kits over the years including the Champions League winning season of 2012. As with the 2015/16 home shirt the 'Yokohama Tyres' sponsor freshens up the overall design of the kit, a £40m per year deal that runs for 5 years, almost double the amount previous sponsor Samsung were chalking up. The Samsung logo was a popular sponsor that appeared on some beautifully minimal kits but the change in sponsor has given the Chelsea kits a new lease of life and fresh take.

The Chelsea blue cuffs on the away jersey represent the famous club colours and are joined by another band of red on the predominately white shirt. It'll take time to get used to the new sponsor with Samsung synonymous with Chelsea fans of a certain generation but all in all it's a couple of typically clean designs from adidas as Chelsea set about retaining their league title and embark on another assault in European football.

The Chelsea 15/16 Away Shirt is available at select stockists including Pro Soccer SA from July 22. Thoughts? Drop your comments below.

LIVERPOOL AWAY 15/16 BY NEW BALANCE

New Balance complete Liverpool's 2015/16 replica collection with the launch of their new away shirt for the upcoming campaign.

Liverpool have a history of wearing white away strips and they'll be doing so again this season as New Balance develop a fresh take for the club's games on the road throughout the new campaign. A gradient mesh jacquard offers depth and perspective on the body, while strong accents of red in the collar, crests and taping to sleeves complete the represent the club's home colours. Keeping the club badge, New Balance logo and Standard Chartered sponsor all in the same colour code also helps create a clean and tidy looking design.

New Balance's first solid and reasonably safe Liverpool replica offering is now complete with the away shirt joining the home kit and third shirt. Liverpool will kit up in their new strips for the first time throughout their bumper pre-season tour of Thailand, Australia and Malaysia before their opening Premier League game of the season away to Stoke City.

The Liverpool 2015/16 Away Shirt is available from select stockists including Pro Soccer SA. What do we think Kopites? Leave your comments below.

MAN CITY HOME 15/16 BY NIKE

Saving our closer look series for the very best in 2015/16 football replica, the MCFC Nike 'match' shirt deservedly makes the cut. But City shirts are just plain blue? Simplicity can be equally as beautiful as complex design and this effort from Nike is as clean as it gets.

Much has been made of Nike's 'match' tiered shirts that are worn by the professional elite. The enhanced designs offer extra levels of performance technologies with laser-cut ventilation holes in key areas to improve air circulation and an engineered mesh fabric in the front and back panels to increase airflow and facilitate enhanced movement with a more streamline cut.

Visually it's a much tidier design than last season's with the sketchy looking navy trim substituted for pristine white detailing in a much more "City" feel. With the red half of Manchester swapping the Swoosh for the Three Stripes, Manchester City will be flying the Nike flag alone this season in a city full of influential football culture and style.

The Manchester City 15/16 home shirt is available at select online stockists including Pro Soccer SA. What are we thinking then City fans? Drop your comments below.

JUVENTUS AWAY 15/16 BY ADIDAS

Few teams could pull off a kit of such notoriety with such nonchalants than Juve. Switching Swoosh with Stripes, the 2015/16 adidas away kit doesn't just cut the mustard, it cleans up the jar.

Carrying on a legacy that dates back to 1897, when the club was founded, this pink away kit is an attention grabber, that's for sure but there's no arrogance about it. A beautifully designed shirt, this is more about the romanticism of an iconic and nostalgic kit.

Using a combination of bright and pale pinks whilst blending in the world renowned black and white of the club, the Jeep sponsor is sitting pretty. A round-neck collar provides a straight forward cut for the more impactful elements to do the talking, and talk they do. Bellissimo.

It's fair to say that for a number of years, the football shirt outside a football stadium came with somewhat of a taboo or stigma. With smart, tailored design this is very much a thing of the past. With kits like this, it grabs off the pitch style and culture just as much as on the pitch performance. This from adidas holds all the latest technical innovations whilst carrying that fresh, unique smell of a new football shirt. Smashed it, it's cool to wear a football shirt again.

The Juventus 2015/16 away shirt is available at select online stockists including Pro Soccer SA. Love it as much as we do? Drop your comments below.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND 15/16 HOME & THIRD BY PUMA

PUMA and Borussia Dortmund join the replica party with the launch of their new home and third kits for the 2015/16 season.

The home shirt is freshened up with black, horizontally placed pin stripes on the traditional yellow backdrop and a corresponding black v-neck collar and matching colouring running along the shoulders. Inside the shirt, fans and players can find the rules of the ‘BVB Leistungsversprechen’, which is a traditional club vow promising to always strive to the maximum of performance.

Sitting alongside the new 2015/16 home kit PUMA have also revealed the club's third strip which is a more simplistic design using an all-white template with a secondary drop of yellow sitting on top of the shoulders and black cuffs and collar completing the look.

The Borussia Dortmund 15/16 shirts are available at selected online stockists including Pro Soccer SA. What we saying? Drop us a line below.

CHELSEA HOME 15/16 BY ADIDAS

Don't like 'em? They don't care. Adidas launch the new 2015/16 Chelsea home kit in typically aggressive fashion with a new message, “If it’s not blue, it will be”, as they target European and domestic domination this season.

The home shirt stays predictably loyal to tradition but takes inspiration from several classic 1980s shirts by using several design features which made these kits fan favourites. White and red trims at the collar, sleeves, shorts and socks ties back to the club's kit history and vertical pinstripes return having been a feature of several iconic shirts from the past 30 years.

Alongside the central design details, the shirt also includes a unique feature in that a finger print is woven onto a label on each shirt symbolising each individual’s identity and representing a move by adidas to closer connect the fans to the club. The “If it’s not blue, it will be” campaign is only just beginning, with Chelsea and adidas set to launch a number of vines including Diego Costa turning a fan’s kit from red to blue, to Cesar Azpilicueta and Eden Hazard changing a new car from red to blue. The series will land across social channels from the 16th July and throughout the club’s US tour.

After years of Samsung sponsorship, the Yokohama Tyres logo might take some getting used to, but overall it feels a lot fresher than previous designs. Our only problem? Those top two images of Costa and Oscar are all a bit "key change in a boyband video", ya know? The shirt will be worn on the club’s pre-season tour to the US with a formal reveal at a grass roots football event in Harlem on 21st July.

The Chelsea 2015/16 Home Shirt is available from select stockists including Pro Soccer SA.

ARSENAL AWAY 15/16 BY PUMA

PUMA are certainly making themselves heard with their Arsenal kit launches this season as they followed up their extravagant home shirt reveal by unveiling the club's new away strip during the Gunners' pre-season tour of Singapore.

Putting on a show for their excitable Asian fan-base PUMA launched Arsenal's new away colours with the help of the players who will wear the strip for the first time when they take on a Singapore Select XI tomorrow. The shirt itself is a combination of both Arsenal and PUMA’s heritage, with a design that reinterprets a classic PUMA Football graphic combined with an Art Deco ‘A’ which is inspired by Arsenal’s past. 

Inspired by the double winning gold away strip of 2001/02 where the club picked up the Premier League and FA Cup PUMA dirty up Arsenal's traditional yellow away tones to create a shirt in a deep rich gold with a diamond graphic that repeats across the front and back panels. Combine it with the 2015/16 home shirt and Arsenal have got a couple of smart work uniforms for the upcoming season.

The Arsenal 2015/16 Away Shirt is available from select stockists including Pro Soccer SA. What you saying Gooners?