Barca dominate World Player of the Year shortlist

Zurich: Lionel Messi is in the running for a third consecutive FIFA World Player of the Year award after being selected on Tuesday among the 23 candidates for the 2011 prize.

Argentina forward Messi and seven of his teammates at European and Spanish champions Barcelona, including Xavi and Andres Iniesta whom the Argentine surprisingly beat last year, are on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, while archrivals Real Madrid have five players nominated. Seven Spain internationals are in contention.

England striker Wayne Rooney made the list after helping Manchester United to a 19th league title and a spot in the Champions League final.

No England player was nominated last year and no Italian player features on the 23-man list for the second straight year.

France have Eric Abidal of Barcelona and Karim Benzema of Madrid after also being shut out in 2010. Abidal had surgery to remove a liver tumour earlier this year before making a triumphant return to lift the Champions League trophy with Barcelona

Brazil have two players on the shortlist, with Barcelona defender Dani Alves and Santos forward Neymar nominated, while Sergio Aguero was the only other Argentine apart from Messi.

Uruguay strikers Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan were nominated after helping their team win the Copa America in July and Oscar Tabarez was on the 10-man shortlist for the Coach of the Year award.

Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o was the only African player to be included.

Barcelona's Pep Guardiola will be favoured to win the World Coach of the Year award after leading his team to a trophy-laden year, adding the European Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup in August.

Long-serving Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque and Madrid coach Jose Mourinho are also on the 10-candidate list. Mourinho won the 2010 award after leading Inter Milan to the Italian and European titles.

The leading three candidates from each list will be announced on December 5 in Paris, with the winners announced at a televised ceremony in Zurich on January 9.

The award is organised jointly by FIFA and France Football magazine, the two having merged their previously separate awards last year. Voting is by national team coaches and captains, and journalists invited by 'France Football'.

Nominees: Eric Abidal (Barcelona, France) Sergio Aguero (Manchester City, Argentina) Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, France) Iker Casillas (Real Madrid, Spain) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Portugal) Daniel Alves (Barcelona, Brazil) Samuel Eto'o (Anzhi Makhachkala, Cameroon) Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona, Spain) Diego Forlan (Inter Milan, Uruguay) Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, Spain) Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina) Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich, Germany) Nani (Manchester United, Portugal) Neymar (Santos, Brazil) Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid, Germany) Gerard Pique (Barcelona, Spain) Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, England) Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich, Germany) Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan, Netherlands) Luis Suarez (Liverpool, Uruguay) David Villa (Barcelona, Spain) Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid, Spain) Xavi (Barcelona, Spain)