The award is presented to the best player of the World Cup finals and is voted for by members of the media and Fifa’s Technical Study Group.
The Barcelona stars were named alongside James, the tournament’s current top scorer with six goals, as part of a 10-man shortlist that is dominated by Germany and Argentina – the two sides who will contest Sunday’s final at the Maracana.
Javier Mascherano and Angel Di Maria join Messi as the three Argentina players to make the list.
Favourites Germany have four nominations, with Mats Hummels and Toni Kroos joining captain Philipp Lahm and Thomas Muller, who has scored five goals in Brazil so far.
Manuel Neuer, Keylor Navas and Sergio Romero have been nominated for the Golden Glove award for the tournament's best goalkeeper, with Paul Pogba, Raphael Varane and Memphis Depay shortlisted for the Best Young Player award.
Fifa Golden Ball Nominees
| Mats Hummels | Germany |
| Thomas Muller | Germany |
| Toni Kroos | Germany |
| Philipp Lahm | Germany |
| Lionel Messi | Argentina |
| Javier Mascherano | Argentina |
| Angel Di Maria | Argentina |
| Neymar | Brazil |
| Arjen Robben | Netherlands |
| James Rodriguez | Colombia |
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