Barcelona defender Dani Alves has said that Lionel Messi should win the 2015 Ballon d'Or ahead of club teammate Neymar and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Barcelona pair and Ronaldo have been shortlisted for the main award, which will be issued at FIFA's Ballon d'Or Gala in Zurich on January 11.

There have been increasing calls for Neymar to pick up the top prize following his excellent form throughout 2015, but Alves 'expects' Messi to land the trophy once again.

"I expect [Lionel Messi] to win the Ballon d'Or, and by a distance. He's far ahead of the rest. He influences the team's play. The best in the world shouldn't only score goals," Alves told TVE.

Ronaldo has picked up the accolade in each of the last two years and three times in total, but Messi has won it four times.