By Andrew Warshaw
October 30 – Lionel Messi is favourite to pick up a fourth consecutive FIFA World Player of the Year award after being selected among 23 candidates for the prestigious annual prize.
Messi’s Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets, Andrés Iniesta, Gerard Piqué and Xavi Hernández are also on the Ballon d’Or shortlist, while Real Madrid have six nominees, including last year’s runner-up Cristiano Ronaldo who is expected again to go head-to-head with Messi (pictured top).
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is again the only England player on the list along with United’s Dutch striker Robin van Persie who was the Premier League’s leading scorer last season when at Arsenal.
Italian players are featured for the first time in three years as Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli and Juventus duo Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon also make the roster.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque (pictured below, centre) will be favoured to win the world coach of the year award, while Roberto Di Matteo – whose rise to prominence has been exceptional – is also on the 10-candidate list after leading Chelsea to the Champions League and FA Cup double.
The reduced shortlist of three names for each prize will be announced next month in São Paulo, on the eve of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup draw.
The winners of all of the awards will then be revealed at the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala in Zurich on January 7.
Men’s shortlist: Sergio Agüero (Argentina), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Mario Balotelli (Italy), Karim Benzema (France), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Sergio Busquets (Spain), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire), Radamel Falcao (Colombia), Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Manuel Neuer (Germany), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Özil (Germany), Gerard Piqué (Spain), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Sergio Ramos (Spain), Wayne Rooney (England), Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire), Robin van Persie (Netherlands), Xavi (Spain).
Coaches’ shortlist: Vicente Del Bosque (Spain/Spain national team), Roberto Di Matteo (Italy/Chelsea FC), Alex Ferguson (Scotland/Manchester United FC), Pep Guardiola (Spain/FC Barcelona former coach), Jupp Heynckes (Germany/FC Bayern München), Jürgen Klopp (Germany/Borussia Dortmund), Joachim Löw (Germany/Germany national team), Roberto Mancini (Italy/Manchester City FC), José Mourinho (Portugal/Real Madrid CF), Cesare Prandelli (Italy/Italy national team).
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