FCBARCELONA.CAT

30.10.2009 11:13

Six Barça players on FIFA World Player shortlist

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Henry, Ibrahimovic, Iniesta, Messi, Puyol and Xavi are all in with a chance of being named the best player in the world for 2009. Barça has more nominees than any other club for the awards, the winners of which will be announced on December 21.

FIFA announced on Friday the list of 23 footballers that could be named the best in the world for 2009. Barça lead in terms of nominees with six, which the organisations’ Football Commission has named as Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andrés Iniesta, Leo Messi, Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernández. The FIFA World Player shortlist also includes Samuel Eto’o, who was a Barça man for the first half of the year.

Other candidates

The other nominees are Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Gianlugi Buffon (Juventus), Iker Casillas (Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Madrid), Diego (Juventus), Drogba (Chelsea), Michael Essien (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Kaká (Madrid), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Luís Fabiano (Sevilla), Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich), Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd), John Terry (Chelsea), Fernando Torres (Liverpool) and David Villa (Valencia).

Verdict on December 21

In early December, FIFA will announce the five finalists as voted by the coaches and captains for every country in the world. The winner of the award will be named on December 21, 2009 at the 19th FIFA World Player Gala at the Zurich Conference Centre.

In 2008, four Barça players made the list, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Eto’o. The first two made the final five, Messi eventually coming second and Xavi fifth. The top award was given to Cristiano Ronaldo, then of Manchester United.