23 FIFA World Player Of The Year Shortlist Announced

The nominees for the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year Award have been announced, with an array of players that, while being largely predictable, contains one or two surprises.

Every player on the 23-man shortlist for the men’s award is based in Europe, with no representatives of the South American or Asian leagues taking part.

A plethora of Premier League stars have been nominated for the 2009 FIFA award, which also includes six players from Barcelona’s all-conquering side, and also six from the Spanish national camp.

However, just one Italian, Gianluigi Buffon of Italy and Juventus, has made the cut.

The winner of the coveted annual award will be announced at the 19th Fifa World Player Gala, at the Zurich Kongresshaus, on Monday December 21.

Along with France Football’s “Ballon d’Or” award, this is one of two major individual accolades in the global game.

Full details of the nominees have been disclosed below, in alphabetical order. Players who moved club during the year have their current team shown first.

NOMINEES FOR 2009 FIFA WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

Player	Nationality	Club	League	Age
Michael Ballack		Chelsea		33
Gianluigi Buffon		Juventus		31
Iker Casillas		Real Madrid		28
Diego		Juventus/Werder Bremen		24
Didier Drogba		Chelsea		31
Michael Essien		Chelsea		26
Samuel Eto’o		Inter/Barcelona		28
Steven Gerrard		Liverpool		29
Thierry Henry		Barcelona		32
Zlatan Ibrahimovic		Barcelona/Inter		28
Andres Iniesta		Barcelona		25
Kaka		Real Madrid/AC Milan		27
Frank Lampard		Chelsea		31
Luis Fabiano		Sevilla		28
Lionel Messi		Barcelona		22
Carles Puyol		Barcelona		31
Franck Ribery		Bayern Munich		26
Cristiano Ronaldo		Real Madrid/Man Utd		24
Wayne Rooney		Manchester United		24
John Terry		Chelsea		28
Fernando Torres		Liverpool		25
David Villa		Valencia		27
Xavi		Barcelona		29