Source: Telegraph
Four England players named as 2009 Ballon D'Or nominees
Real Madrid's record signing Ronaldo leads a list of 30 nominees for this year's Ballon d'Or, that does not include a single player from current world champions Italy.
Ronaldo, 24, won the prestigious award last year and will be one of the favourite for this year's title after a stunning start to his career at the Bernabeu.
The Portuguese has scored nine goals in seven games since joining the Spanish club for a world record £80 million from Manchester United in the summer.
Ronaldo, who is currently sidelined by an ankle injury, headed Madrid's significant summer spending which also saw them sign Kaka and Karim Benzema - who are both also included in the list.
There is, however, no room for any players from world champions Italy.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and Luca Toni were the Azzurri's only nominees last year.
European champions Spain are the best represented nation with six players listed, while the Primera Liga boasts the most players from a single league with 12.
The Premier League is next best with 10 players, while Serie A has just four.
Champions League and La Liga winners Barcelona top the list in terms of club representation with six players - Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thierry Henry, Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Yaya Toure and Xavi.
Chelsea and Manchester United both have three players selected on the list. Chelsea's nominees are England captain John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, while United's selection affords another accolade to 35-year-old midfielder Ryan Giggs, as well as Rooney and Nemanja Vidic.
The Ballon d'Or is an award handed out to the world footballer of the year. It is voted for by journalists and organised by France Football magazine.
The winner will be announced on Dec 1.
The 30-man list of nominees for the 2009 Ballon d'Or:
Premier League
Arsenal:
Andrey Arshavin
Cesc Fabregas
Chelsea:
Didier Drogba
Frank Lampard
John Terry
Liverpool:
Fernando Torres
Steven Gerrard
Manchester United:
Ryan Giggs
Wayne Rooney
Nemanja Vidic
Primera Liga
Real Madrid:
Karim Benzema
Kaka
Iker Casillas
Cristiano Ronaldo
Barcelona:
Thierry Henry
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Andres Iniesta
Lionel Messi
Xavi
Yaya Toure
Valencia:
David Villa
Sevilla:
Luis Fabiano
Atletico Madrid:
Diego Forlan
Serie A
Juventus:
Diego
Inter Milan:
Samuel Eto'o
Julio Cesar
Maicon
Bundesliga
Wolfsburg:
Edin Dzeko
Bayern Munich:
Franck Ribery
Ligue 1
Bordeaux:
Yoann Gourcuff
