Monday, 29th October, 2012
The shortlist for FIFA’s 2012 Ballon d’Or award has been announced and the usual suspects find themselves in the running.
Europe’s big five leagues dominate, with not a single players from outside the English Premier League, Italian Serie A, Spanish La Liga, France Ligue 1 and German Bundesliga, apart from Didier Drogba, who now plays for Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua, and Santos’ Neymar.
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi proudly takes his spot in the list, with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo also firmly in the running.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has enjoyed such a positive impact at Paris Saint-Germain, is included too, alongside controversial Manchester City hitman Mario Balotelli.
FIFA have also announced the shortlist for 2012’s best coach, with familiar names again dominating.
Jose Mourinho is included, with Josep Guardiola, who left his job as Barcelona coach at the end of last season.
National team bosses also figure.
Germany’s Joachim Low, Italy’s Cesare Prandelli and Spain’s Vicente del Bosque look the front runners.
Full Nominees for 2012 Ballon d’Or
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City/Argentina)
Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid/Spain)
Mario Balotelli (Manchester City/Italy)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/France)
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus/Italy)
Sergio Busquets (Barcelona/Spain)
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid/Spain)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Portugal)
Didier Drogba (Shanghai Shenhua/Ivory Coast)
Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid/Colombia)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain/Sweden)
Andres Iniesta (Barcelona/Spain)
Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina)
Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich/Germany)
Neymar (Santos/Brazil)
Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid/Germany)
Gerard Pique (Barcelona/Spain)
Andrea Pirlo (Juventus/Italy)
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid/Spain)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United/England)
Yaya Toure (Manchester City/Ivory Coast)
Robin van Persie (Manchester United/Netherlands)
Xavi (Barcelona/Spain)
Coach Nominees
Vicente del Bosque (Spain/Spain national team)
Roberto Di Matteo (Italy/Chelsea)
Sir Alex Ferguson (Scotland/Manchester United)
Josep Guardiola (Spain/Barcelona)
Jupp Heynckes (Germany/Bayern Munich)
Jurgen Klopp (Germany/Borussia Dortmund)
Joachim Low (Germany/Germany national team)
Roberto Mancini (Italy/Manchester City)
Jose Mourinho (Portugal/Real Madrid)
Cesare Prandelli (Italy/Italy national team)
