FIFA Ballon d'Or Shortlist

FIFA announce Ballon d'Or nominees

Seven members of Spain's World Cup-winning squad have been shortlisted for the prestigious FIFA Ballon d'Or award.

Andres Iniesta, who netted the winning goal in the Johannesburg final against Holland in July, is among the contenders along with his Barcelona team-mates Xavi, Carles Puyol and David Villa.

Spain captain Iker Casillas and his Real Madrid colleague Xabi Alonso also make the shortlist along with Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas is one of three Barclays Premier League players on the 23-man list of nominees. The others are Chelsea's Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba and Sunderland's Ghana frontman Asamoah Gyan.

Barca's Argentina forward Lionel Messi and Brazil right-back Daniel Alves, Atletico Madrid forward Diego Forlan - who scored five goals at the World Cup and received the Golden Ball award - and Real Madrid pair Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil make up 11 players nominated from La Liga.

Inter Milan quartet Samuel Eto'o, Julio Cesar, Maicon and Wesley Sneijder are also included after winning an unprecedented Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League treble last term, with their former boss Jose Mourinho heading the candidates for the inaugural World Coach of the Year award.

Messi is the reigning Ballon d'Or winner and FIFA World Player of the Year.

The awards have now been merged, so the best player in the world will now be recognised by a single accolade - the FIFA Ballon d'Or.

The final decisions will be made by the captains and head coaches of the national teams as well as by international media representatives selected by France Football.

The winners will be revealed in Zurich on January 10.

World Player of the Year nominees: Xabi Alonso (Spain), Daniel Alves (Brazil), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Julio Cesar (Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Maicon (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Muller (Germany), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Carles Puyol (Spain), Arjen Robben (Holland), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Holland), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).

World Coach of the Year nominees: Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea), Vicente del Bosque (Spain), Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United), Pep Guardiola (FC Barcelona), Joachim Low (Germany), Jose Mourinho (Inter Milan/Real Madrid), Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay), Louis Van Gaal (Bayern Munich), Bert van Marwijk (Holland) and Arsene Wenger (Arsenal).

http://www.espnstar.com/football/champions-league/news/detail/item521102/FIFA-announce-Ballon-d%27Or-nominees/

Only three players from the Premier League. 

Messi & Del Bosque to win.

Hang on.....must be a mis-print I didnt see the worlds greatest midfielder mentioned Frank Lampard.

Can't believe Hodgson isn't there for World Coach of the Year.

Schweinsteiger and Ancelotti for me.

While to me Messi is the best player right now, he didn't accomplish much last season. I'm hoping to see Sneijder win.

It's probably going to be Wesley Sneijder and Vicente Del Bosque.

Sneijder won the treble with Inter Milan and went on to help Netherlands to the finals of the World Cup, scoring 5 goals, I think.

Del Bosque only because he led Spain to their first world cup thriumph.

Sniejder/Forlan and Mourinho for me.

Del Bosque and ... I don't know. That's a toughie.

It's incredible that Milito is out of this list!

Xabi!

Sneijder for me, followed by Iniesta.

For me, it has to be Ozil, Sneijder or Iniesta. I would probably go with Iniesta though. And, as for Manager of the year, has to be Del Bosque out of that list. However, to me, there is no real stand-out managers this year. Also, why on earth is Wenger on it

Sneijder for me, followed by Iniesta.

The same for me, Sneijder, with Inter, won Champions League, Italian championship, and played the WC final with Netherlands. He deserves the Ballon d'Or.

As best coach I'd choose Mourinho.

Sneijder and Del Bosque or Mourinho.

Seen some reports saying the list 'snubbed' the premier league - the league didn't exactly have a huge bunch of standouts last year, and then I think the World Cup had a big say in it as well. Most of the ones who may have had a good season in the league (Rooney, Lamps) had a sh*te World Cup. So fair enough, for me.

EDIT: Be the first year for awhile we haven't had a player on there as well eh?

Iniesta and Xabi for me.  what they bring to Barcelona and Spain is immense. Not physical midfielders, but just pure talent, skill, technique and brilliant footballing brains.

Xabi, as in Alonso, or Xavi Hernandez from Barca? ^

Messi will win hands down.

Sniejder Vicente del Bosque

Would really love to see Xabi Alonso win it.

Mourinho for the coach award without a doubt IMO.

As for player......Sneijder or Forlan for me.

Del Bosque for coach.

Sneijder or Villa for the Ballon D'Or.

Mourinho for coach
Sneider for the Ballon d'Or.

Messi is so good that even an average season like the one he's had, will have him as one of the 3 favourites to take the award.

For me it's between Messi, Sneijder and Iniesta.

Coach between Mourinho, Del Bosque and errm... Hodgson?

Messi, Iniesta and Xavi are the final three.

With Vicente del Bosque, Pep Guardiola and José Mourinho the final three for coach of the year.

I like Sneijder but the fact is he hasn't scored a league goal for Inter for months, as for Messi not have a good season, are you living in a cave ?.

Personally I'd love to see Xavi win to recognise the sheer consistency of the guy, christ Giggs won sports personality of the year for playing about a dozen games.

Sneijder not in the final 3 it's a shame. WC finalist with Netherlands. Winner of championship, Cup and Champions League with Inter. Is there a player who had a better season ? I don't think. I would have chosen Iniesta, Messi and Sneijder for the last 3.

Has there ever been a time when all of the final 3 were from the same club before now?

Has there ever been a time when all of the final 3 were from the same club before now?

Think i read somewhere it happening for 2 successive years in the 80's, AC Milan being the club. Not certain about that mind.

Think i read somewhere it happening for 2 successive years in the 80's, AC Milan being the club. Not certain about that mind.

Yeah, 1988 and 1989. 1988 actually had 3 dutch players from Milan nominated, Rijkaard, Gullit and Van Basten. Van Basten won them both, and again in 1992.

Not interested in this at all, never have been, never will be.

Yet more FIFA pantomime material.

Not interested in this at all, never have been, never will be.

So what's the point in posting then Redpuppy?

Messi/Del Bosque.

So what's the point in posting then Redpuppy?

Just my opinion.

As stuey says, yet more FIFA pantomime material.