Italians lead way for World Player of Year

speakupforyourrights SG

Italians lead way for World Player of Year

BERNE, Switzerland, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Five members of Italy's 2006 World Cup winning side have been named on the 30-strong shortlist for FIFA's 2007 World Player of the Year award.

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Last year's winner Fabio Cannavaro features once again alongside team-mates Gianluigi Buffon, Gennaro Gattuso, Alessandro Nesta and Andrea Pirlo.

England and France each have four nominations with Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and John Terry making up the English contingent.

Thierry Henry, twice a runner-up for the award, is joined by French colleagues Franck Ribery, Lilian Thuram and Patrick Vieira.

Ronaldinho's recent dip of form has not prevented the 2004 and 2005 award winner from making the list alongside fellow Brazilians Juninho and Kaka.

Kaka has already been named 2007 Player of the Year by the professional soccer players' union FIFPro.

The shortlist also features an Argentine trio of Lionel Messi, Juan Roman Riquelme and Carlos Tevez.

The list is drawn up by members of FIFA's technical committees and voted on by the coaches and captains of every national team.

The winner will be announced at FIFA's World Player Gala in Zurich on Dec. 17.

FIFA World Player of the Year nominees:
Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), Petr Cech (Czech Republic), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Deco (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Ghana), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Gennaro Gattuso (Italy), Steven Gerrard (England), Thierry Henry (France), Juninho (Brazil), Kaka (Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Frank Lampard (England), Rafael Marquez (Mexico), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Alessandro Nesta (Italy), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Franck Ribery (France), Juan Roman Riquelme (Argentina), Ronaldinho (Brazil), Wayne Rooney (England), John Terry (England), Carlos Tevez (Argentina), Lilian Thuram (France), Fernando Torres (Spain), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands), Patrick Vieira (France)

4 milan players sia Shocked Shocked

omgukilledkenny SG

If based on current form its Messi.

But i think Kaka will win.

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

i wonder why the likes gerrard and lampard gets nominated again. too much media coverage of them? then again i say england and epl players are overrated. there are some real gems in the likes of serie a and la liga possibly other leagues

speakupforyourrights SG

i think kaka will win, messi could be 2nd or 3rd.

i dont think any english players deserve it, with the exception of David Beckham.
wad he did in the 2nd half of the la liga, was awesome. whenever he is criticised, he always turns back and rubs his sh!t in the critics face with his performance.

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

possibly top 5 not in any order would be messi, pirlo, van nistelrooy, kaka, c. ronaldo

Deunamist SG

lol its either kaka or messi.

omgukilledkenny SG

In the awards fifteen year history, English players have won it exactly.never.

But it gets worse, apart from an Englishman having never won the award, no player plying his trade at an English club has ever done so either.

That means the likes of Carlos Tevez, Fernando Torres, Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and Petr Cech are likely to miss out. Cristiano Ronaldo, who demonstrated his immense ability with a fine season with Manchester United last time around could have a shout, but its an outside bet.

omgukilledkenny SG

I think..

1)Kaka
2)Messi
3)Ronaldo