Real Madrid had to play second fiddle to rival Barcelona last season as the Catalan club won five trophies.
And 2016 is likely to provide further bragging rights to Barca whose star striker Lionel Messi is favorite to win FIFA Ballon d’Or.
The Catalan side fronted two nominees for the award given to the world’s best footballer, adding Brazilian hero Neymar to the Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly.
While the Real Madrid forward has scooped the last two awards, its predicted Ronaldo’s winning streak will come to an end at Monday’s glitzy ceremony in Zurich.
As the prize reaches its 60th year, this marks the eighth time the Portuguese and Argentine forwards have dominated the nominees — Messi has won four to Ronaldo’s three titles.
The new year got off to a flying start for the Argentine superstar this weekend as he scored a hat-trick for Barcelona in a 4-0 victory over Granada at Camp Nou Saturday.
It follows a remarkable year for Messi, who helped Barca to a 23rd Spanish championship at Ronaldo and Real’s expense.
The 23-year-old Neymar also enjoyed a glittering year and he has been rewarded with his first nomination for football’s top prize.
The Brazilian was part of Barcelona’s formidable front line with Messi and Uruguayan Luis Suarez, firing the team to a Spanish Cup win in May before completing the treble for the 2014/2015 season with the Champions League title in June.
In all competitions the trio’s goal tally rose to 122 — a new Spanish record.
Yet in the past 12 months, Ronaldo has surpassed Messi as the all-time top scorer in the Champions League while also becoming the top goalscorer in the history of Real — the world’s most decorated club.
The Portuguese star registered 57 goals in 57 games, against Messi’s 52 in 61. Neymar scored 45 in 62.
FIFA will announce the winner at the Ballon d’Or Gala along with four other awards.
The women’s prize is between American Carli Lloyd, who plays for Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League, Japan’s Aya Miyama of Okayama Yunogo Belle, and Celia Sasic who plays for Frankfurt in Germany.
Barca coach Luis Enrique is up for the men’s Coach of the Year gong, after guiding his team to the treble.
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola, who spent four years at Barca, is nominated along with Argentinian Jorge Sampaoli, who led Chile to its first ever Copa America title in 2015.
In the women’s category, Jill Ellis is nominated after guiding the USA to its third World Cup title in Canada. England’s coach Mark Sampson and Norio Sasaki, Japan coach, are also shortlisted.
FIFA also announced the contenders for the Puskás Award that celebrates the most beautiful goal of the year.
Messi’s mazy effort against Athletic Bilbao is included as is Alessandro Florenzi’s spectacular effort for AS Roma against Barcelona, with Brazil striker Wendell Lira’s acrobatic overhead kick for club side Goianesia rounding off the list.