World Player of the Year shortlist announced.

[Gunnerman]

FIFA have just released this year's shortlist for FIFA World Player of the Year.

There are 12 players from the Premiership in the shortlist. Last year’s award went to Ronaldinho.

International managers and captains will now cast their votes with the winner announced at a ceremony in Zurich on December 18.
The full shortlist is:
Adriano (Inter Milan, Brazil, sorry no award for this fat barsteward)

Michael Ballack (Chelscum, Germany)

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy, he did backstop Italy to the World Cup)

Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy, best of the defenders)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal)

Petr Cech (Chelscum, Czech Republic, didn't have a good enough World Cup)

Deco (Barcelona, Portugal, ummmm nah)

Didier Drogba (Chelscum, Ivory Coast, no diving cnuts should get this award)

Michael Essien (Chelscum, Ghana)

Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon, would have a better shot if Cameroon had made the WC)

Luis Figo (Inter Milan, Portugal, too old)

Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan, Italy, hard nosed holding midfielders don't win this)

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England, deserving but not likely)

Thierry Henry (Arsenal, France, he should of won 2 years ago)

Kaka (AC Milan, Brazil, possible)

Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen, Germany, one of the best scoring Germans)

Philippe Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany)

Frank Lampard (Chelscum, England, a shit WC means no award)

Jens Lehmann (Arsenal, Germany, the sending off at the UCL final will not help his case)

Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan, Italy)

Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan, Italy, terrific playmaker may not be a big enough name)

Franck Ribery (Marseille, France, too ugly)

Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina)

Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil, the darling of the world but had subpar WC)

Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, England, hasn't scored enough for England but I blame the management)

Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal, Czech Republic)

Andriy Shevchenko (Chelscum, Ukraine)

Lilian Thuram (Barcelona, France)

Patrick Vieira (Inter Milan, France, too far removed from his peak years)

Zinedine Zidane (retired, France, head butts are us)

If I were voting I would vote for Kaka, he had a terrific year for AC Milan and IMO was the best player going forward for Brazil in the WC. Samuel Eto'o would also garner some consideration for me but since Cameroon missed the big party in Germany that may hurt his chances.

[Chilled_Captain]

That appears to be a long list to me

Sorry Gunner, i can't give any predictions because i only watch the EPL. But my ...

1. How does Chelsea lose a game? Their whole roster is up the Player of the year award.

2. Why do managers vote on these things? How much of Italian or Spanish league matches do EPL managers REALLY get to see? Other than just highlights.

[Gunnerman]

The scummers are made up of alot of the players on this list but, they still have to play as team and they usually have a great deal of turnover each year so sometimes as with any super star team things don't gel right away.

It is only International managers voting, so that means the guys who manage the teams who represent their countries. They do usually see more of the different leagues than just say the EPL managers.

[ssigman]

good list...no arsenal player will win it...no epl player will win it....it's going to be an italian....and his name is cannavaro...best defender in the world cup...led them to the cup...american announcers were on his nuts the whole time....

best line...frank ribery (too ugly) i think his name should be ribbitery cause he looks like a frog

[Gunnerman]

Yeah I know no Arsenal player is going to win it, I was surprised to see more than just Henry on the list, well maybe Lehmann and Rosicky spent last season with Borussia Dortmund.

I am liking more and more your Cannavaro pick ssigs.

"Ribbitery" LMAO!

[ssigman]

cannavaro was just the "darling" of the tournament...i think he gets the nod...

i hate ribbitery...just looking at him angers me