One of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar will be handed the Fifa Ballon d’Or trophy by a rather unlikely character next month after it was announced that actor James Nesbitt will join Kate Abdo as hosts of the award ceremony.

The self-confessed Manchester United fan will join Sky Sports presenter Abdo for the gala in Zurich on 11 January, despite having nothing to do with football. In past years, ex-pros have graced the stage and handed out the awards, with the main gong going to either Ronaldo or Messi since 2008.

Fifa is currently in the midst of a complete reform after the corruption scandal that was exposed earlier this year, but their decision to name Nesbitt as presenter has been questioned just as much after the surprise announcement.

Abdo presented the award gala last year, and she told fifa.com that it is a “real privilege” to be invited back to the ceremony after thinking it would be a once-in-a-lifetime event.

“When I got asked to do the Ballon d’Or last year I thought it was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” said Abdo, who is fluent in French, German and Spanish. “Knowing that I’ll be a part of it for the second time is a real privilege.

“You know who’s going to be in the crowd, you’ve seen the red carpet, you’ve seen all these faces that are legends of the game, that you’ve always admired being a sports reporter; people that you’ve followed their entire careers. And then you know, all of a sudden, they are going to be sitting in the audience and listening to you.”

Nesbitt has not spoken publicly since being unveiled as the new host, but there was plenty of reaction to his new role on social media as Twitter was left in a state of bemusement.

The 40-year-old Northern Irishman starred in last year’s Hollywood version of The Hobbit, and has also had lead roles in Murphy’s Law, Ballykissangel and Cold Feet.