Edu365.cat

Last week saw the publication of the list of candidates to be named FIFA World Player, the highest accolade in the footballing world. Thirty names are in the running for the award, which also includes a second and third place.

The select list was drawn up by various groups of experts at the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), football's international governing body. Now it's the turn of coaches and captains of the national sides to choose their three favourite players, on the condition that they are not of the same nationality. A vote count will decide the winner.

This year, FC Barcelona is the club with the highest number of nominees with seven players put forward (Deco, Eto'o, Henry, Márquez, Messi, Ronaldinho and Thuram), followed by five from Chelsea (Cech, Drogba, Essien, Lampard and Terry) and four from AC Milan (Gattuso, Kaká, Nesta and Pirlo). In terms of countries, Italy has five players on the shortlist, France has four, and Brazil and Argentina three each.

Although men's football enjoys wider media coverage than women's football, FIFA also runs an award for women, with last year's winner being the Brazilian player Marta Vieira da Silva. Winners of both awards will be announced on 17 December at a ceremony to be held in the Swiss city of Zurich.