England stars among world's best
Friday, 30 October, 2009
Five England internationals on FIFA World Player 2009 shortlist
Five England internationals have been named on the shortlist for the FIFA World Player of the Year.
Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and England Captain, John Terry, have been nominated in the men's category while Kelly Smith is in contention for the FIFA Women's World Player 2009 award. England-based Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Fernando Torres are also in the running for the men's award.
Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard and Terry helped Fabio Capello's side qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the former scoring nine goals in the process. Smith scored three goals for England at Euro 2009 in the summer.
The final decision will be made by the Captains and Head Coaches of the men's and women's national teams and the winners will be announced in Zurich on Monday 21 December 2009.
Full list of FIFA World Player 2009 candidates:
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), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Kaká (Brazil), Frank Lampard (England), Luis Fabiano (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Carles Puyol (Spain), Franck Ribéry (France), Wayne Rooney (England), John Terry (England), Fernando Torres (Spain), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).
Full list of FIFA Women's World Player 2009 candidates:Nadine Angerer (Germany), Sonia Bompastor (France), Cristiane (Brazil), Inka Grings (Germany), Mana Iwabuchi (Japan), Simone Laudehr (Germany), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Kelly Smith (England) and Abby Wambach (USA).
