Source: Manchester_EveningNews
Rooney in running for FIFA award
MANCHESTER United striker Wayne Rooney has been shortlisted for the FIFA World Player of the Year award. Rooney has spearheaded the Reds attack admirably since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid and also impressed for Fabio Capello's resurgent England side. Portugal's Ronaldo, unsurprisingly, heads a familiar cast of stars voting commences ahead of the annual gala in Zurich on December 21. Barcelona?s Lionel Messi is another strong candidate. Spain provide six nominees - goalkeeper Iker Casillas, defender Carles Puyol, midfielders Andres Iniesta and Xavi and strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa. England, with four - Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and John Terry - are next, while Brazil (three) and France (two) are the only other countries with more than one player nominated. Brazilian Marta, who has won the women?s award for the last three years, is once again included on a shortlist of 10 names. FIFA World Player 2009 shortlist: 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). FIFA Women?s World Player 2009 shortlist:Nadine Angerer (Germany), Sonia Bompastor (France), Cristiane (Brazil), Inka Grings (Germany), Mana Iwabuchi (Japan), Simone Laudehr (Germany), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Kelly Smith (England), Abby Wambach (USA). Who should win? Have your say. [LNB]
