Messi favourite for FIFA award

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PARIS, Oct 30, 2009 (AFP) - Six Spaniards have been named in the 23-strong shortlist for the FIFA World Player of the Year award.

They include three players from Barcelona, Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.

England are the next best represented nation on the shortlist with four players in the running including two from Chelsea in John Terry and Frank Lampard.

Last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who was with Manchester United then and is currently with Real Madrid, is listed again but the hot favourite to lift the award is Barcelona's Argentine playmaker Lionel Messi.

With voting restricted to the coaches and captains of national selections, a final shortlist of five players will be named in early December with the winner announced on December 21.

FIFA shortlist for World Player of the Year

Spain (6): Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Fernando Torres (Liverpool/ENG), David Villa (Valencia), Xavi (Barcelona)

England (4): Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), John Terry (Chelsea)

Brazil (3): Diego (Juventus/ITA), Kaka (Real Madrid/ESP), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla/ESP)

France (2): Thierry Henry (Barcelona/ESP), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich/GER)

Germany: Michael Ballack (Chelsea/ENG)

Argentina: Lionel Messi (Barcelona/ESP)

Cameroon: Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milan/ITA)

Ivory Coast: Didier Drogba (Chelsea/ENG)

Ghana: Michael Essien (Chelsea/ENG)

Italy: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus Turin)

Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/ESP)

Sweden: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona/ESP)