EURO 2008 champions Spain provided six of the contenders when Fifa announced a list of 23 nominations for their World Player of the Year award yesterday.
Last year's winner, Brazilian Kaka, is again in the running along with Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo, whose goals played a major role in Manchester United's Premier League and Champions League double.
The list, drawn up by Fifa's football committee, will now be voted on by national team coaches and captains, with the top three announced in December.
The winner will be announced on January 12th.
NOMINATIONS: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid and Argentina), Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg and Russia), Michael Ballack (Chelsea and Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus and Italy), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid and Spain), Deco (Chelsea and Portugal), Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona and Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal and Spain), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool and England), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan and Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona and Spain), Kaka (AC Milan and Brazil), Frank Lampard (Chelsea and England), Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich and France), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United and Portugal), John Terry (Chelsea and England), Fernando Torres (Liverpool and Spain), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid and Netherlands), David Villa (Valencia and Spain), Xavi (Barcelona and Spain).
