Other Premier League players include United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Chelsea's N'golo Kante, and Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez.
Ronaldo enjoyed another remarkable season in which he inspired Real Madrid to a La Liga/Champions League double while Messi topped him in the Spanish goalscoring charts for Barcelona while going past a career landmark of 500 goals for the club.
Zinedine Zidane, who guided Real Madrid's landmark season, with seven of their players in the men's shortlist, is recognised in his nomination as best men's coach.
The awards are a revival of the old FIFA World Player of the Year, which had been combined with France Football magazine's Ballon d'Or for six years before the collaboration ended last year. Ronaldo won the inugural 'best' trophy.
They are voted for by national coaches and captains, selected media and fans, with the winners to be announced at a ceremony in London on October 23.