Lionel Messi would like to have shared the Ballon d'Or finalists' shortlist with Luis Suarez, but says Cristiano Ronaldo is a deserving nominee.
Ronaldo and Messi have dominated the prize for the last seven years but both face strong competition this year from Messi's Barcelona team-mate Neymar.
Real Madrid forward Ronaldo has claimed the last two Ballon d'Or awards with Messi winning the previous four editions, the first of those given when it was known as the FIFA World Player of the Year prize.
And Messi, speaking at the annual La Liga awards where he won trophies for best player and best forward, said Ronaldo is a "true deserver" of a place in the top three.
"I am happy for once again having been selected among the three finalists," he said. "To be able to assist to another gala. I am happy I will be there with Neymar.
"I also would have like to share the event with Luis because he also deserved to be there following his great performance during last season.
"But we must also accept the fact that Cristiano is a true deserver of the nomination. So we will go to enjoy the moment like we did every time we went there."
Suarez, Neymar and Messi have continued their unstoppable scoring form from the treble-winning campaign of 2014/15, and have a combined 43 goals already this term.
Barca boss Luis Enrique won the best coach in La Liga award, while Claudio Bravo won best goalkeeper and Neymar was nominated best player from the Americas. Messi was full of praise for his team-mates' achievements.
He said: "I am happy and thankful for these awards and recognitions. I think that after all we've done and won last season we deserved these awards and perhaps even more. But we are thankful for these awards tonight.
"We want to keep going the way we are now. We want to keep achieving things. Soon we have the Clubs World Cup, another very important tournament for us. And we want to win that one too."
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