Spanish players Iker Casillas, Andrés Iniesta, Carles Puyol, Fernando Torres, David Villa and Xavi Hernández have all been nominated for FIFA World Player of the year.

Spain has more players nominated than any other country, ahead of England with Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and John Terry all amongst the hopefuls.

The big favourites for the prize are, of course, also on the list of nominees - Argentina's Lionel Messi and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, last year's winner.

Brazil also has three of its players nominated: Juventus player, Diego, Real Madrid's Kaká and Sevilla's Luis Fabiano.  Barcelona's Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have also been nominated.

At the beginning of December, FIFA will announce the five players who have received the most votes and the awards will be presented at the FIFA World Player Gala Dinner on December 21st in the Kongresshaus in Zürich.

The managers and captains selected to be on the judges panel cannot vote for players from their national or league side.

The full list of World Player of the Year nominees is as follows:

MEN: Michael Ballack (GER), Gianluigi Buffon (ITA), Iker Casillas (ESP), Cristiano Ronaldo (POR), Diego (BRA), Didier Drogba (CIV), Michael Essien (GHA), Samuel Eto'o (CMR), Steven Gerrard (ENG), Thierry Henry (FRA), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SWE), Andrés Iniesta (ESP), Kaká (BRA), Frank Lampard (ENG), Luis Fabiano (BRA), Lionel Messi (ARG), Carles Puyol (ESP), Franck Ribéry (FRA), Wayne Rooney (ENG), John Terry (ENG), Fernando Torres (ESP), David Villa (ESP) and Xavi (ESP).

WOMEN:
Nadine Angerer (GER), Sonia Bompastor (FRA), Cristiane (BRA), Inka Grings (GER), Mana Iwabuchi (JPN), Simone Laudehr (GER), Marta (BRA), Birgit Prinz (GER), Kelly Smith (ENG) and Abby Wambach (USA).