Shortlists for FIFA awards revealed

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Shortlists for FIFA awards revealed

Who will be honoured with the title of FIFA World Player and FIFA Women's World Player for 2008? FIFA has announced the names of the nominees and the final decision will be made by the captains and head coaches of the men's and women's national teams.

At the beginning of December, FIFA will announce the names of the three men and women who have received the most votes and the winners will be revealed at the 18th FIFA World Player Gala at the Zurich Opera House on 12 January 2009.

The lists of 23 male and 10 female candidates for these prestigious awards have been drawn up by football experts from the Football Committee and the Committee for Women's Football and the FIFA Women's World Cup.

The following 23 men (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the title of FIFA World Player 2008:

Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), Sergio Agüero (Argentina), Andrei Arshavin (Russia), Michael Ballack (Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Deco (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Côte d'Ivoire), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Steven Gerrard (England), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Kaká (Brazil), Frank Lampard (England), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Franck Ribéry (France), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), John Terry (England), Fernando Torres (Spain), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).

The following 10 women (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the title of FIFA Women's World Player 2008:

Nadine Angerer (Germany), Shannon Boxx (USA), Cristiane (Brazil), Daniela (Brazil), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Christine Sinclair (Canada), Kelly Smith (England), Hope Solo (USA) and Ingvild Stensland (Norway).

Previous Winner

2007
1st Kaká Brazil AC Milan
2nd Lionel Messi Argentina FC Barcelona
3rd Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal Manchester United

2006
1st Fabio Cannavaro Italy Real Madrid
2nd Zinedine Zidane France Real Madrid
3rd Ronaldinho Brazil FC Barcelona

2005
1st Ronaldinho Brazil FC Barcelona
2nd Frank Lampard England Chelsea
3rd Samuel Eto'o Cameroon FC Barcelona

2004
1st Ronaldinho Brazil FC Barcelona
2nd Thierry Henry France Arsenal
3rd Andriy Shevchenko Ukraine AC Milan

2003
1st Zinedine Zidane France Real Madrid
2nd Thierry Henry France Arsenal
3rd Ronaldo Brazil Real Madrid

2002
1st Ronaldo Brazil Real Madrid
2nd Oliver Kahn Germany Bayern Munich
3rd Zinedine Zidane France Real Madrid

2001
1st Luís Figo Portugal Real Madrid
2nd David Beckham England Manchester United
3rd Raúl Spain Real Madrid

2000
1st Zinedine Zidane France Juventus F.C.
2nd Luís Figo Portugal Real Madrid
3rd Rivaldo Brazil FC Barcelona

1999
1st Rivaldo Brazil FC Barcelona
2nd David Beckham England Manchester United
3rd Gabriel Batistuta Argentina AC Fiorentina

1998
1st Zinedine Zidane France Juventus F.C.
2nd Ronaldo Brazil F.C. Internazionale
3rd Davor Šuker Croatia Real Madrid

1997
1st Ronaldo Brazil FC Barcelona
2nd Roberto Carlos Brazil Flag of Spain Real Madrid
3rd Dennis Bergkamp Netherlands Arsenal
3rd Zinedine Zidane France uventus F.C.

1996
1st Ronaldo Brazil FC Barcelona
2nd George Weah Liberia A.C. Milan
3rd Alan Shearer England Newcastle United

1995
1st George Weah Liberia A.C. Milan
2nd Paolo Maldini Italy A.C. Milan
3rd Jürgen Klinsmann Germany Bayern Munich

1994
1st Romário Brazil FC Barcelona
2nd Hristo Stoichkov Bulgaria FC Barcelona
3rd Roberto Baggio Italy Juventus F.C.

1993
1st Roberto Baggio Italy Juventus F.C.
2nd Romário Brazil FC Barcelona
3rd Dennis Bergkamp Netherlands F.C. Internazionale

1992
1st Marco van Basten Netherlands A.C. Milan
2nd Hristo Stoichkov Bulgaria FC Barcelona
3rd Thomas Häßler Germany AS Roma

1991
1st Lothar Matthäus Germany F.C. Internazionale
2nd Jean-Pierre Papin France Olympique Marseille
3rd Gary Lineker England Tottenham Hotspur

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The list of men and women to be crowned as the FIFA World Players for 2008 have been cut down to five. But who do you think will be the lucky winners?

Kaka, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres and Xavi are in the running for the men's award, while Nadine Angerer, Cristiane, Marta, Birgit Prinz and Kelly Smith could claim the women's crown.

But who do you think will emerge triumphant? Can you predict who the captains and coaches from FIFA's 208 member associations will select?

And don't be frightened to give your opinion. Did Cristiano Ronaldo do better than Messi in 2008? Is Xavi a better central midfielder than Kaka - or should Torres be crowned above them all?

As for the women, will Prinz or Kelly win it for the strikers, could the award be going back to Brazil or will German No1 Angerer be revealed as being the No1 women's player in the world?

All will be revealed on Monday 12 January in Zurich.

[cymon]

Zinedine Zidane really make himself a great name here..