FIFA have announced their shortlists for this year's illustrious Ballon d'Or, World Coach of the Year and other annual awards to be handed to the year's inspirational sporting heroes.

The winners of which will be announced on January 10, 2011 in Zurich. The gala will include for the second time the FIFA Puskas award for the most beautiful goal and the FIFA Fair Play award among a host of other team and individual accolades.

The eagerly anticipated World Player of the Year list has been dominated by those who shone in South Africa over the summer, enlightening the world during the FIFA 2010 World Cup. Holders Spain and semi-finalists Germany make up most of the 23-man list.

The contenders are:

Xabi Alonso
(Spain) Dani Alves
(Brazil)
Iker Casillas
(Spain) Cristiano Ronaldo
(Portugal)
Didier Drogba
(Ivory Coast) Samuel Eto'o
(Cameroon)
Cesc Fabregas
(Spain) Asamoah Gyan
(Ghana)
Julio Cesar
(Brazil) Miroslav Klose
(Germany)
Philipp Lahm
(Germany) Maicon
(Brazil)
Thomas Mueller
(Germany) Arjen Robben
(Netherlands)
Bastian Schweinsteiger
(Germany) David Villa
(Spain)
Xavi
(Spain) Carles Puyol
(Spain)
Andres Iniesta
(Spain) Diego Forlan
(Uruguay)
Lionel Messi
(Argentina) Mesut Oezil
(Germany)
Wesley Sneijder
(Netherlands)





In addition, a total of ten coaches have been selected.

Carlo Ancelotti
(Chelsea) Vicente del Bosque
(Spain)
Alex Ferguson
(Manchester United) Pep Guardiola
(Barcelona)
Joachim Loew
(Germany) Jose Mourinho
(Inter & Real Madrid)
Oscar Tabarez
(Uruguay) Louis van Gaal
(Bayern Munich)
Bert van Marwijk
(Netherlands) Arsene Wenger
(Arsenal)


The same awards will be handed to those who have been pushing the best of women's football over the past year.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/2724/ballon-dor/2010/10/26/2183592/fifa-ballon-dor-shortlist-announced