Kaka threatens to upstage Italians

LONDON, England -- Holder Fabio Cannavaro is among five Italians vying for the FIFA's world player of the year accolade to be awarded in Switzerland on 17 December.

The world champions are also represented by Gianluigi Buffon, Gennaro Gattuso, Alessandro Nesta and Andrea Pirlo -- the latter three's cases boosted by their excellent UEFA Champions League performances for competition winners AC Milan.

But it is another Milan star, Brazilian marksman Kaka, who is favorite to lift the honor at the Zurich Opera House.

Argentine forward Lionel Messi, one of seven Barcelona representatives in the shortlist of 30 players unveiled on Wednesday, is a big rival.

Manchester United's Portuguese winger Ronaldo heads the 10-strong Premier League-based representation -- half of them coming from Chelsea.

There are also 10 players from Spain's Primera Liga while all 30 nominees are based in Europe.

The lists were compiled by various groups of FIFA experts and will now be sent to each of the world governing body's member associations.

Once there, the coaches and captains of each country's national side will vote for their top three candidates, not including players from their own nation.

The same will apply with the women's list with Germany's World Cup-winning skipper Birgit Prinz and Brazil's beaten finalist Marta the top contenders.

FIFA men's world player of the year shortlist:

Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy), Cech (Chelsea, Czech Rep), Ronaldo (Man Utd, Portugal), Deco (Barcelona, Portugal), Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon), Gattuso (AC Milan, Italy), Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Henry (Barcelona, France), Juninho (Lyon, Brazil), Kaka (AC Milan, Brazil), Klose (Bayern Munich, Germany), Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany), Lampard (Chelsea, England), Marquez (Barcelona, Mexico), Messi (Barcelona, Argentina), Nesta (AC Milan, Italy), Pirlo (AC Milan, Italy), Ribery (Bayern Munich, France), Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Rooney (Man Utd, England), Terry (Chelsea, England), Tevez (Man Utd, Argentina), Thuram (Barcelona, France), Torres (Liverpool, Spain), Van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid, Holland), Vieira (Inter Milan, France). E-mail to a friend