FIFA has announced a 23 man shortlist for their Player of the Year award which includes eight players from the current Premier League.
Wayne Rooney, Fernando Torres, and Steven Gerrard make the cut from Manchester United and Liverpool, but Chelsea dominate with Frank Lampard, John Terry, Michael Essien, Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba all in contention. Former Manchester United star and last years winner Cristano Ronaldo has also been shortlisted.
If we take a look at the facts and figures from PTG last season Frank Lampard was the best overall player, Steven Gerrard was second and Ronaldo was third. So far this season, Fabregas of Arsenal is the best performing player in the PTG rankings, but Drogba is second and Lampard third.
For sheer consistency Lampard has to stand out from the players listed from the Premier League, but maybe the winner will come from one of the other 15 players from the rest of the world and therefore a player just out of reach of any PTG manager.
The full list is shown below and the winner will be announced on December 21st 2009.
FIFA World Player 2009 shortlist:
Michael Ballack (Germany)
Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
Iker Casillas (Spain)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Diego (Brazil)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
Michael Essien (Ghana)
Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon)
Steven Gerrard (England)
Thierry Henry (France)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)
Andres Iniesta (Spain)
Kaka (Brazil)
Frank Lampard (England)
Luis Fabiano (Brazil)
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Carles Puyol (Spain)
Franck Ribery (France)
Wayne Rooney (England)
John Terry (England)
Fernando Torres (Spain)
David Villa (Spain)
Xavi (Spain)