The manager, who led Portugal to become European champions in 2016 is up against Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane, winner of the European Champion’s League, and Claudio Ranieri, who led underdogs Leicester City in winning the English Premier League.

The winner will be announced on 9 January at the FIFA Gala in Zurich.

Fernando Santos, 62, started his coaching as an assistant at Estoril-Praia in 1986, is experiencing the high point of his career after he took Portugal to its first international title in the Euros.