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The last time a footballer not named Lionel or Cristiano won the Ballon d'Or was way back in 2007.
Messi and Ronaldo have enjoyed a duopoly over the game's biggest individual prize for the last seven years. The former has been honoured four times, the latter three.
On Monday, Real Madrid's Ronaldo is in contention to win the Ballon d'Or for a third year in succession - a hat-trick that would draw him level with Barcelona's Messi on four awards overall.
Messi's team-mate Neymar is also in the race after he played a key role in Barcelona's treble-winning 2014-15 season.
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So who will walk away from Zurich with the Ballon d'Or under their arm?
Is Ronaldo set to make it three in a row? Will Messi return to the pinnacle of world football after a two-year absence? Or can Neymar upset the status quo by taking top spot on the podium?
Here, we cast an analytical eye over the three contenders' Opta data for 2015:
Lionel Messi
As ever, Messi was Barcelona's inspiration, as he formed a devastating attacking trident with Neymar and Luis Suarez that swept his side to a La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey treble.
A brace in the European Super Cup final against Sevilla and the opening goal in Barca's Club World Cup final triumph over River Plate ensured Messi's influence was stamped all over his club's five-trophy haul over the course of the calendar year.
The only major blot on the Argentina captain's 2015 copybook was his nation's Copa America final defeat to Chile, but a return of 52 goals and 26 assists in 61 games for club and country over the 12-month period is evidence enough as to why he is, once again, in the Ballon d'Or running.
Messi netted 34 times in 33 La Liga appearances during 2015, with his minutes-per-goal rate of 80 the best of any player across Europe's top five leagues.
A haul of 15 assists also meant he was directly involved in 49 La Liga goals throughout the year - the joint-most across Europe's top five leagues, equal with Ronaldo. However, it took Messi 652 fewer minutes to reach that tally when compared to his great rival.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Neymar