FIFA has short listed 23 players for the prestigious FIFA World Player of the Year award. Last year’s winner, and a hot favorite for the award, Cristiano Ronaldo will face prime competition from England stars John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is also being touted as a strong contender for this year’s award.

Will he do it again?

Cristiano Ronaldo

Tough Competition

Steven Gerrad	Frank Lampard	Wanye Rooney	Lionel Messi

The winner of the award is selected on the basis of votes by the captains and head coaches of the men’s and women’s national teams and at the beginning of December. The winner will be announced during the 19th FIFA World Player Gala at the Zurich Kongresshaus on Monday 21 December 2009.

Here’s a list of the 23 contenders:

• 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)

As the countdown begins for the football World Cup 2010, excitement is building up in all corners of the world. As players and teams get ready for the big face off, all eyes are now on the young Turks who may create history with newer achievements during the tournament. Ronaldo did it in 2006. Who can be the next?

Ronaldo

The Brazilian soccer whiz kid remains unbeaten with his historical 15 goals in the 2006 World Cup.

Watch his 15 golden goals here:

World Cup 2010 is expected to surface fresher talent that may take soccer to greater heights in future. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo , Kaka, Lionel Messi, Torres, and David Villa are all set to unleash an unprecedented display of soccer skills.

Whom, out of these players do you think might break Cristiano’s record? Share your opinion now!

Cristiano Ronaldo

Kaka

Messi

Torres

These are the best-of-breed players whose names have become synonymous with football. These are the legends whose fame is not bound by time and space.

Here’s our tribute to the greatest football stars who have redefined the game with their unique style and unquestioned sportsmanship.

Pele

Pele’s football pedigree is undeniable. With his deft touch, dribbling skills and incredible goal scoring ability, he brought two of Brazil’s first three world cup victories. With more than a thousand goals to his credit, Pele is the undisputed czar of football.

Name: Edson Arantes do Nascimento
Birthday: 10/23/1940
Birthplace: Tres Coracoes, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Number of goals: 1120

Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff was named the European Footballer of the Year three times (1971, 1973, 1974] which is a record jointly held with Michel Platini, and Marco van Basten. Cruyff remains the most famed proponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football, explored by Rinus Michels and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

Name: Hendrik Johannes Cruijff
Birth Date:25 April 1947
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Number of goals: 371

Michael Platini

Michael Platini is a stellar figure in French soccer history. Widely regarded as one of the most elegant midfielders of his generation, Michael is famous for his superb game tactics and exceptional coaching abilities.

Name: Michel François Platini
Birth Date: June 21, 1955
Birth Place: Jœuf, France
Number of goals: 312

Diego Maradona

Gifted with incredible game technique and the ability to move the ball with great accuracy, Diego Maradona won the 1986 World Cup for Argentina almost single-handedly.

Name: Diego Armando Maradona
Birthday: 30 October 1960
Birthplace: Villa Fiorito, Buenos Aires
Number of goals: 307

David Beckham

From being the world’s highest-paid footballer in 2004 to twice being the runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year, Beckham is the first British footballer to play 100 Champions League matches. He has been the most popular captain of England football team from 15 November 2000 until the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals, during which he played 58 times.

Name: David Beckham
Date of Birth: May 2, 1975
Birthplace: Leytonstone, London
Number of goals:115

Ronaldo

As a brilliant and fluid forward, Ronaldo became one of international soccer’s great stars of the 1990s and Brazil’s biggest soccer hero since Pele.

Name: Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima
Birth Date: 22 September 1976
Birthplace: Bento Ribeiro, Brazil
Number of goals: 336

Zinedine Zidane

An outstanding player of his generation, Zinedine Zidane led France to World Cup glory in 1998 and to the European Championship in 2000. Zidane is famous for his winning goals in the 1998 World Cup Final and the 2002 Champion’s League Final. Zidane was named European Footballer of the Year in 1998, and FIFA World Footballer of the Year in 1998, 2000, and 2003.

Name : Zinedine Zidane
Date of Birth: June 23, 1972
Place of Birth: Marseille, France
Number of goals: 122

Ronaldinho

Regarded as one of the most gifted footballers of his generation, Ronaldinho has been awarded the FIFA World Player of the Year award twice (2004, 2005). Winner of the European Footballer of the Year award and the FIFA Pro World Player of the Year award (2005, 2006), Ronaldinho is famous for his speed, strength and the skill to make the impossible look so easy on the field.

Name: Gaucho Ronaldinho
Birth date: March 21, 1980
Birth Place: Ronaldo de Assis Moreira on in Porto Alegre.
Number of goals 164

Kaka

Kaka is widely considered as one of the best footballers of his generation, often drawing comparisons in style and ability to other great footballers as Michel Platini, Sócrates, Zico, and Pelé. His footballing style is unique as he has the technique of a Brazilian and the physical qualities of a European.

Name: Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite
Birth Date: April 22, 1982
Birthplace: Brasília, Brazil
Number of goals: 125

Cristiano Ronaldo

Touted as one of the most promising soccer star of this genera ration, Ronaldo won his first UEFA Champions League title in 2008, and was also named player of the tournament. He was also named the FIFPro World Player of the Year and the FIFA World Player of the Year, in addition to becoming Manchester United’s first Ballon d’Or winner in 40 years.

Name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Date of Birth: 5th of February 1985 (Monday)
Place of Birth: Funchal (Madeira island, Portugal)
Number of goals: 124