World player shortlist announced

England's quartet, clockwise from top-left: John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney

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Wednesday, 10, Oct 2007 04:24

Four England internationals and ten players based in the Premier League have been named on the shortlist for December's world player of year award.

Wayne Rooney, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard have all been included on the 30-man line-up, which will be cut to a top three ahead of the gala event in Zurich on December 17th.

Those four are joined by six other fellow English-based players, including Manchester United pair Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.

Liverpool's record signing Fernando Torres is also named among the 30 players after another solid season for Atletico Madrid and a good start to his career in Anfield.

In addition to Lampard and Terry, three more Chelsea players are also named. Petr Cech, one of only two goalkeepers to be included, and African stars Didier Drogba and Michael Essien complete the Premier League contingent.

Last year's winner Fabio Cannavaro is included again alongside four of his countrymen – the other goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, Gennaro Gattuso, Alessandro Nesta and Andrea Pirlo.

The favourite to take the award this year is Italy-based star Kaka, who inspired AC Milan to Champions League glory last season.

And another notable inclusion is former Arsenal talisman Thierry Henry, who now plays in Spain for FC Barcelona.

Interestingly all 30 players nominated for the world player of the year award ply their trade in domestic leagues in Europe, demonstrating the relative strength and financial clout of the continent.

Full world player of the year shortlist:

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy)
Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy)
Petr Cech (Chelsea, Czech Rep)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal)
Deco (Barcelona, Portugal)
Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast)
Michael Essien (Chelsea, Ghana)
Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon)
Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan, Italy)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England)
Thierry Henry (Barcelona, France)
Juninho (Lyon, Brazil)
Kaka (AC Milan, Brazil)
Mirolsav Klose (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Phillip Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Frank Lampard (Chelsea, England)
Rafael Marquez (Barcelona, Mexico)
Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina)
Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan, Italy)
Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan, Italy)
Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich, France)
Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina)
Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, England)
John Terry (Chelsea, England)
Carlos Tevez (Manchester United, Argentina)
Lillian Thuram (Barcelona, France)
Fernando Torres (Liverpool, Spain)
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid, Holland)
Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan, France)