Zurich - Six players from European champions Spain and Olympic gold medallist Lionel Messi of Argentina head a shortlist for the 2008 World Footballer of the Year award. The 23-player list released on Wednesday by the ruling body FIFA also includes rising Russian ace Andrei Arshavin, England's Frank Lampard, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, and the 2008 award winner Kaka of Brazil.
The World Footballer of the Year, elected by the captains and coaches of the world's national teams, will be announced at a FIFA gala in Zurich on January 12, 2009.
Goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas heads the Spanish contingent, with strikers David Villa and Fernando Torres, and midfielders Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta and Xavi the other nominees from the Spanish team which won the Euro crown in June in Vienna.
England has three nominees in Lampard, Steven Gerrard and John Terry while the Beijing gold medallists Messi and Sergio Aguero are listed as Argentinians.
Shannon Boxx and Hope Solo from Olympic champions United States are among of 10 contenders for the women's award.
Men's nominees Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo, Arsenal) Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Atletico Madrid) Andrei Arshavin (Russia, Zenit St Petersburg) Michael Ballack (Germany, Chelsea) Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus) Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid) Deco (Portugal, Chelsea) Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea) Samuel Eto9o (Cameroon, Barcelona) Cesc Fabregas (Spain, Arsenal) Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Inter Milan) Andres Iniesta (Spain, Bracelona) Kaka (Brazil, AC Milan) Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea) Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona) Franck Ribery (France, Bayern Munich) Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Manchester United) John Terry (England, Chelsea) Fernando Torres (Spain, Liverpool) Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands, Real Madrid) David Villa (Spain, Valencia) Xavi (Spain, Barcelona)
Women's nominees Nadine Angerer (Germany) Shannon Boxx (United States) Cristiane (Brazil) Daniela (Brazil) Marta (Brazil) Birgit Prinz (Germany) Christine Sinclair (Canada) Kelly Smith (England) Hope Solo (United States) Ingvild Stensland (Norway)
