Short lists for FIFA World Player awards revealed.

[ShannonNicole;;]

Official Page.

Who will be honoured with the title of FIFA World Player and FIFA Women's World Player for 2009? FIFA has today announced the names of the players on the short lists (see below) and the final decision will be made by the captains and head coaches of the men's and women's national teams.

At the beginning of December, FIFA will announce the names of the five men and five women who have received the most votes and the winners will be revealed at the 19th FIFA World Player Gala at the Zurich Kongresshaus on 21 December 2009.

It should be noted that coaches and captains may not vote for players from the national team they coach or play for.

The lists of 23 male and ten female candidates for these prestigious awards have been drawn up by football experts from the Football Committee and the Committee for Women's Football and the FIFA Women's World Cup.

The following 23 men (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the title of FIFA World Player 2009;

Michael Ballack (Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Diego (Brazil), Didier Drogba (Côte d'Ivoire), 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).

The following ten women (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the title of FIFA Women's World Player 2009;

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).

[ShannonNicole;;]

I hear ya.
I just don't like how FIFA has this favoritism thing going on.
Grings deserves this.

[Matt]

All I'm saying is that I've noticed FIFA tends to have favoritism towards certain players.

Remember, coaches and team captains are the one's that vote.. and usually the most well known win. Now maybe Grings will get up there because of all the European coaches but I still doubt her passing up Marta.

Also note that never in the history of FIFA World Player of the Year voting (for females) has a player that has not previously held 2nd or 3rd been considered #1.

[ShannonNicole;;]

Well, I think Inka has done way more this year than Marta.

-Making her way back onto the team with I think 9 goals this year from a 3 year absence of the German WNT is great.
-Winning the German Women's cup (DFB-Pokal) with her team FCR 2001 Duisburg.
-German Female Footballer of the year 2009.
-Women's European Championship winner.
-Top scorer of the Women's European Championship (6 goals)
-08-09 UEFA Women's Cup champion with FCR 2001 Duisburg.

If all that doesn't get her the award, I'll probably get a little mad.

[Matt]

FIFA never seems to award the players that do well at tournaments. Look at last year; Cristiane scores 5 goals (leading Olympic goal-scorer) and she scored her 2nd hat trick in her 2 Olympic games. You would assume that after having such a strong year, she'd do better than #3 in the World. Somehow Birgit Prinz was #2 yet again, even though she only scored 1 goal in the Olympics..


This year I see the results being:

1. Marta - Not many would argue Marta as being the best in the world
2. Cristiane - I think more and more are beginning to realize that although she has a bag full of tricks, her finishing ability is the #1 in the world. (Over 25 goals at Santos right now with close to 10 games played)
3. Prinz or Wambach - Prinz is the German Abby Wambach. She's big and strong, may not have the skills of a Brazilian, but is a world class player. Wambach is also known for her strength and I think her scoring over 100 international goals will help her out.

[ShannonNicole;;]

Well, I hope Inka wins.

[Supermokh]

If FIFA going to include this year UEFA Championship then Inka Grings is the favourite to win, or else I'm not surprise if Martha win this year.

[ShannonNicole;;]

Yeah, I'm a bit surprised she isn't on the list also.

[Pat]

NO Hope Solo, She is easily the best goalie in the world...WOW, no love at all

[ShannonNicole;;]

Because of her play in the European Championships, I think Inka Grings should get this one.