Five Premier League players have been named on the shortlist for the 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or, including Manchester United duo Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.
Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli are also among the 23 men in the running to be recognised as the world’s greatest player after helping Manchester City win the title last season.
Didier Drogba has also been included after his contribution to Chelsea’s Champions League success, while there are a number of contenders from Spain’s Euro 2012-winning squad.
The shortlist will be narrowed down to three on 29 November, with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid the favourites to top the list.
Meanwhile, Roberto Di Matteo, Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini are among a shortlist of 10 in the frame for the coach of the year award.
Vicente del Bosque, Pep Guardiola, Jupp Heynckes, Jurgen Klopp, Joachim Low, Jose Mourinho and Cesare Prandelli have also been credited for their good work over the past 12 months.
Shortlist: Sergio Aguero (Man City), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Mario Balotelli (Man City), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Didier Drogba (Chelsea/Shanghai Shenhua), Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Milan/PSG), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Manuel Neuer (Bayern), Neymar (Santos) Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Yaya Toure (Man City), Robin van Persie (Arsenal/Man Utd) Xavi (Barcelona).
Source: Sky Sports
