London, England (My Sportsbook) - Chelsea quintet Frank Lampard, John Terry, Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien have been included on a 23- man shortlist for this season's FIFA World Player of the Year award.

England internationals Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney join Lampard and Terry on the list.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who won last year's title, is once again in the running for the award, which will be announced at FIFA's annual gala in Zurich on Dec. 21.

Barcelona's Argentina international Lionel Messi is one of Ronaldo's main rivals for the award, while Euro 2008 winners Spain have six nominees - goalkeeper Iker Casillas, defender Carles Puyol, midfielders Andres Iniesta and Xavi and strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa.

Following is the complete shortlist (with national team in parentheses):

Michael Ballack (Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Diego (Brazil), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Ghana), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Steven Gerrard (England), Thierry Henry (France), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Kaka (Brazil), Frank Lampard (England), Luis Fabiano (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Carles Puyol (Spain), Franck Ribery (France), Wayne Rooney (England), John Terry (England), Fernando Torres (Spain), David Villa (Spain), Xavi (Spain).

(Courtesy of sportbox.tv)