Ballon d’Or shortlist revealed by FIFA

FIFA yesterday released a shortlist of 23 players who will contest the inaugural 2010 FIFA Ballon d’Or with seven members of Spain’s victorious World Cup winning squad included.

Next after that came Germany with five players in the running for the world player of the year award, while four players from Champions League winners Inter are listed.

Last year the trophy went to Bar-celona’s Lionel Messi who is again in the hunt for this year’s award.

The revamped award is a combination of the FIFA World Player of the Year contest and the France Football Ballon d’Or trophy which have been run separately until now.

The winner will be revealed at the first FIFA Ballon d’Or gala in Zurich on January 10.

Players

Xabi Alonso (R. Madrid), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Iker Casillas (R. Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (R. Madrid), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Samuel Eto’o (Inter), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Diego Forlan (A. Mad-rid), Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland), Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona), Julio Cesar (Inter), Miroslav Klose (B. Munich), Philipp Lahm (B. Munich), Maicon (Inter),

Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Thomas Müller (B. Munich), Mesut Ozil (R. Madrid), Carles Puyol (Bar-celona), Arjen Robben (B. Munich), Bastian Schweinsteiger (B. Munich), Wesley Sneijder (Inter), David Villa (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona).

Managers

Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea), Vicente del Bosque (Spain), Alex Ferguson (Manchester United), Pep Guardiola (Barcelona), Joachim Loew (Germany), Jose Mourinho (Inter),

Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay), Louis van Gaal (Bayern Munich), Bert van Marwijk (Netherlands), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal).