Topics: FIFA Ballon d'Or, Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Asamoah Gyan, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola
Germany and Spain stars expectedly dominate the FIFA Ballon d’Or shortlist, but Wayne Rooney, Pique, and Luis Suarez have surprisingly all been omitted.

Lionel Messi is currently the world's best player. France Football have just announced their 23-man shortlist.The winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or award – which is the new combined version of the FIFA Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or awards – will be announced on January 10, 2011. In the meantime, the 23-man shortlist has officially been released by France Football. The world’s reigning best player, Lionel Messi, is part of it and he stands as the favorite to win it.

Bayern Munich’s Thomas Mueller, who impressed for Germany throughout the 2010 World Cup, also has his name in the list while the recently on-fire Cristiano Ronaldo will contend for the prize too. Ghana’s “unlucky” hero Asamoah Gyan is among the three Africans that have been nominated for the FIFA Ballon d’Or where as much as 7 Spanish players have been enlisted for the award as well.

 

It may not come as a surprise for many to have 2010 World Cup Golden Ball winner Diego Forlan in the 23-man list. However, the inclusion of players such as Klose, or again Cesc Fabregas – who didn’t play much in South Africa and failed to win silverware with Arsenal last season – has come under interrogation by many football fans.

Wayne Rooney’s exclusion from the FIFA Ballon d’Or shortlist is the biggest shock and might only be explained by the striker’s disastrous World Cup. Either way, it has left his fans disgusted following Rooney’s remarkable performances for Manchester United last season. Meanwhile, African football supporters would be delighted to know that Luis Suarez hasn’t made the cut.

Now besides the World Player of the Year list, there’s also the Best Coach of the Year list where 10 managers have been nominated for an individual accolade. Treble winner and current Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is the favorite to pick up this prize against the likes of Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, and Vicente del Bosque among others.

FIFA Ballon d’Or’s 23-man Shortlist

Xabi Alonso (Spain and Real Madrid)
Dani Alves (Brazil and Barcelona) Who wins the next edition of the Ballon d'Or now renamed the FIFA Ballon d'Or?
Iker Casillas (Spain and Real Madrid)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal and Real Madrid)
Didier Drogba (Cote d’Ivoire and Chelsea)
Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon and Inter Milan)
Cesc Fabregas (Spain and Arsenal)
Asamoah Gyan (Ghana and Sunderland)
Julio Cesar (Brazil and Inter Milan)
Miroslav Klose (Germany and Bayern Munich)
Philipp Lahm (Germany and Bayern Munich)
Maicon (Brazil and Inter Milan)
Thomas Mueller (Germany and Bayern Munich)
Arjen Robben (Netherlands and Bayern Munich)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany and Bayern Munich)
David Villa (Spain and Barcelona)
Xavi (Spain and Barcelona)
Carles Puyol (Spain and Barcelona)
Andres Iniesta (Spain and Barcelona)
Diego Forlan (Uruguay and Atletico Madrid)
Lionel Messi (Argentina and Barcelona)
Mesut Oezil (Germany and Real Madrid)
Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands and Inter Milan)

Best Coach of the Year ShortlistJose Mourinho is the favorite to win the Best Coach of the Year award.

Carlo Ancelotti (Italian – Chelsea Coach)
Vicente del Bosque (Spanish – Spain Coach)
Alex Ferguson (Scottish – Manchester United Coach)
Pep Guardiola (Spanish – Barcelona Coach)
Joachim Low (German – Germany Coach)
Jose Mourinho (Portuguese – Real Madrid Coach)
Oscar Tabarez (Uruguayan – Uruguay Coach)
Louis van Gaal (Dutch – Bayern Munich Coach)
Arsene Wenger (French – Arsenal Coach)
Bert van Marwijk (Dutch - Netherlands Coach)