Three Africans on shortlist for world player of the year

1st November 2009 

Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Samuel Eto'o have all been shortlisted for FIFA's world player of the year award.

The three are among 23 players in the running to win the prize.

England stars John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney have also all been shortlisted for the award.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi is favourite for the award ahead of last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo, now at Real Madrid.

Captains and head coaches vote for the winners. At the beginning of December FIFA will then announce the names of the five players who've received the most votes.

On December 21 the winners will be announced at the FIFA World Player Gala at the Zurich Kongresshaus.

The full list of nominees are:

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

soccerhene: Michael Dadzie