FIFA announced 23-man shortlist for 2012 Ballon D’Or

FIFA have announced their 23-man shortlist for the 2012 Ballon D’Or, with Wayne Rooney the only Englishman on the list for the second year running.

There were 6 Premier League players in all included among the nominees, one of whom, Didier Drogba, now plies his trade elsewhere. Manchester City have 3 players on the list in Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli and Yaya Toure, while new Manchester United recruit Robin van Persie also makes the list following his exploits with Arsenal last season.

Among the other big name nominees are last year’s winner Lionel Messi and runner-up Cristiano Ronaldo as well as Xabi Alonso, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Andrea Pirlo and Brazilian Neymar.


Sir Alex Ferguson, Roberto Mancini and Roberto Di Matteo have been nominated in the coach of the year category, along with Vicente del Bosque who guided Spain to the Euro 2012 title.

Player nominees: 
Sergio Aguero (Argentina), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Mario Balotelli (Italy), Karim Benzema (France), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Sergio Busquets (Spain), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Radamel Falcao (Colombia), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Manuel Neuer (Germany), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Gerard Pique (Spain), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Sergio Ramos (Spain), Wayne Rooney (England), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast), Robin van Persie (Holland), Xavi (Spain).

Coach nominees: 
Vicente del Bosque (Spain/Spain national team), Roberto Di Matteo (Italy/Chelsea), Alex Ferguson (Scotland/Manchester United), Pep Guardiola (Spain/Barcelona former coach), Jupp Heynckes (Germany/Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Germany/Borussia Dortmund), Joachim Low (Germany/Germany national team), Roberto Mancini (Italy/Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Portugal/Real Madrid), Cesare Prandelli (Italy/Italy national team).

All the winners will be announced at the FIFA Ballon D’Or gala in January.