Spain dominate Ballon d'Or shortlist
Reuters - Tuesday 01 November 2011, 07:50
World and European champions
Spain dominated the shortlist for the Player of the Year
award announced on Tuesday with seven players among the 23
nominees.
Argentina's Lionel Messi will attempt to win the award for
the third year in a row, having beaten his
Barcelona team-mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta last year.
The trio were among eight Barcelona players to make the
shortlist for this year while Barca's arch-rivals Real Madrid
have five.
Frenchman Eric Abidal, who had surgery to remove a liver
tumour earlier this year before making a triumphant return to
lift the Champions League trophy with Barcelona, was also among
the nominees.
Daniel Alves and Neymar were the only Brazilians named while
Sergio Aguero was the only other Argentine apart from Messi.
Uruguay strikers Luis Suaraz and Diego Forlan were nominated
after helping their team win the Copa America in July and Oscar
Tabarez was on the 10-man shortlist for the Coach of the Year
award.
Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o was the only African player to be
included. The list will be whittled down to three on December 5 with
the winner being announced in Zurich on January 9.
The award is organised jointly by FIFA and France Football
magazine, the two having merged their previously separate awards
last year.
Nominees:
Eric Abidal (Barcelona, France)
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City, Argentina)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, France)
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid, Spain)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Portugal)
Daniel Alves (Barcelona, Brazil)
Samuel Eto'o (Anzhi Makhachkala, Cameroon)
Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona, Spain)
Diego Forlan (Inter Milan, Uruguay)
Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, Spain)
Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina)
Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Nani (Manchester United, Portugal)
Neymar (Santos, Brazil)
Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid, Germany)
Gerard Pique (Barcelona, Spain)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, England)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan, Netherlands)
Luis Suarez (Liverpool, Uruguay)
David Villa (Barcelona, Spain)
Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid, Spain)
Xavi (Barcelona, Spain)