FIFA World Player of the Year shortlist (2009)

[lee12]

Can't see it being anyone other than Messi or Ronaldo. Chelsea have a a good few nominees in there...

Michael Ballack (Germany), Chelsea
Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Juventus
Iker Casillas (Spain), Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Real Madrid
Diego (Brazil), Juventus
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Chelsea
Michael Essien (Ghana), Chelsea
Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Inter Milan
Steven Gerrard (England), Liverpool
Thierry Henry (France), Barcelona
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Barcelona
Andres Iniesta (Spain), Barcelona
Kaka (Brazil), Real Madrid
Frank Lampard (England), Chelsea
Luis Fabiano (Brazil), Sevilla
Lionel Messi (Argentina), Barcelona
Carles Puyol (Spain), Barcelona
Franck Ribery (France), Bayern Munich
Wayne Rooney (England), Manchester United
John Terry (England), Chelsea
Fernando Torres (Spain), Liverpool
David Villa (Spain), Valencia
Xavi (Spain), Barcelona

Thoughts? Anyone missing from the list?

BBC SPORT | Football | England quartet up for Fifa award

[Gaz Lear]

How does John Terry get nominated every year, I always thought the whole of Europe could see his weaknesses and it was just the British press who were crawling up his arse

[Coffin]

I think the top 3 should/will be: Messi, Xavi & Ronaldo

On talent alone Torres deserves to be in there but it invariably comes down to what you win and the 'bigger' the better, see Ronaldo in 2002 (when Ballack was the best player in the world over the season bar none). Also see Henry never having won it despite being the best or the one of the very best players for a number of years.

[fantastic dan]

I'd have to give it to Ronaldo. The guy is just a superb footballer, Man Utd are a far poorer team without him and Real Madrid look a far better team when he plays.

[Gaz Lear]

I think Messi will get it, should be Ronaldo but it tends to go to the star player in the team who won the Champions League. The year United won the CL Ronaldo was awesome 42 goals and all, but Messi was sublime in everything he did and has been ever since

[Coffin]

Whilst I agree Ronaldo is superb and has been incredibly consistent for the past 2/3 years, having watched Messi a lot over last season and the manner in which Barca won the Treble I think he deserves it.

He was top scorer in the Champions League, scoring in the final and also scored in the Copa del Rey final. He scored twice against Real at the Bernabeu inflicting their worst home defeat in nearly 80 years and finished the season with some 35 goals.

[Filipino]

Gonna be Messi easy! Him and Xavi the world's best players at the moment.

[sdb123]

I think it will be either Xavi or Iniesta....surprised that Henry, Puyol and Ballack made the list. Probably more surprised that Fabregas isn't on the list though...