Messi heads 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or shortlist

Football's governing body FIFA has announced the 23-man shortlist for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or, the award given to the world's best player. The winner will be announced at a FIFA gala in Zurich on January 9.

European and Spanish champions Barcelona dominate the shortlist, with a total of eight players nominated. Argentina star and 2010 winner Lionel Messi is once again up for the award, along Spain's World Cup-winning midfield partnership of Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Also on the list are former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, defender Gerard Pique, striker David Villa, Brazil fullback Dani Alves and France's Eric Abidal.

Barca's archrivals Real Madrid are also well represented, with 2008 winner Cristiano Ronaldo one of their five nominees. The Portugal attacker is joined by Germany's Mesut Ozil, France striker Karim Benzema, goalkeeper Iker Casillas and Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso.

English champions Manchester United were beaten by Barca in May's European Champions League final at Wembley, but Alex Ferguson's team still have two players shortlisted: England striker Wayne Rooney and Portugal winger Nani.

Bayern Munich endured a frustrating end to last season, registering a third-place finish in the German Bundesliga. Despite a disappointing campaign, the four-time European champions are represented on the shortlist by Germany pair Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Muller.

Uruguay claimed a record 15th Copa America triumph in July, and La Celeste's strike duo of Inter Milan's Diego Forlan and Liverpool's Luis Suarez have been shortlisted for the award.

Santos' teenage Brazil forward Neymar is the only player based outside of Europe to be nominated for the 2011 award.

Argentina striker Sergio Aguero has made a flying start to his Manchester City career, and the former Atletico Madrid star could cap a fine year by being the named the planet's best player.

Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o is a four-time African player of the year, and the Anzhi Makhachkala striker could clinch the FIFA Ballon d'Or for the first time in his career.

Inter Milan's Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder has again been nominated. Last season he was named in the FIFA world XI but did not make the final three-man cut.

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2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or shortlist announced

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(CNN) -- European and Spanish champions Barcelona dominate the shortlist for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or, the award given to the world's best footballer.

Football's global governing body announced a 23-man shortlist for the award on Tuesday, with eight members of Josep Guardiola's Barca squad in the running for the prestigious prize.

The award is a combination of the FIFA World Player of the Year accolade and France Football Magazine's Ballon d'Or, with the new incarnation of the honor awarded for the first time in 2010.

Barcelona's Argentina star Lionel Messi was the inaugural winner, and he has again been nominated along with clubmates Eric Abidal, Dani Alves, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Xavi, David Villa and Cesc Fabregas, who signed from English club Arsenal in August.

Is Messi the only candidate for the Ballon d'Or?

Barca's Spanish rivals Real Madrid earned five nominations, including 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal.

Brazil striker Neymar, 19, is the only nominee not based in Europe, having decided to stay with Santos despite being linked with several top overseas clubs.

Former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o, who this season left Italy's Inter Milan for Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia, is the only African player on the shortlist.

The winner of the 2011 prize, along with the awards for the world's best female player and the finest male and female coaches, will be handed out at the second annual FIFA Ballon d'Or gala on January 9.

2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or shortlist:

Eric Abidal (France), Sergio Aguero (Argentina), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Dani Alves (Brazil), Karim Benzema (France), Iker Casillas (Spain), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Muller (Germany), Nani (Portugal), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Gerard Pique (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Wayne Rooney (England), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), Luis Suarez (Uruguay) David Villa (Spain), Xavi (Spain).