Ronaldo claimed the award for the second successive year after winning 37.66 per cent of all votes, while four-time world player of the year Messi was second with 15.76 per cent, just ahead of Manuel Neuer (15.72 per cent).
Instead of plumping for the two players widely regarded as the best on the planet, Hodgson opted for Javier Mascherano as his top pick, with Philipp Lahm second and Neuer third.
Only one other international coach selected Barcelona and Argentina defender/midfielder Mascherano as their first choice for the award - Belarus boss Andrei Zygmantovitch - and Hodgson's picks have certainly created waves on social media.
Former England captain Gary Lineker was among those to express their surprise, writing:
Meanwhile, Jamie Carragher - who played under Hodgson at Liverpool - wrote:
Hodgson is not the first England boss to stray from the norm when it comes to FIFA Ballon d'Or voting, though, with Fabio Capello going for Maicon as one of his top three selections in 2010.
Maicon helped Inter Milan win the treble of UEFA Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia in 2010, but aside from Capello only five other coaches voted for the Brazil international - those from Albania, Bermuda, FYR Macedonia, Tajikistan and Venezuela.
