Zidane earns world nomination

By Simon Fudge  

Zidane earns world nomination

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Teams

  • Argentina
  • Brazil

Players

  • Ashley Cole
  • Thierry Henry

Former France captain Zinedine Zidane has been nominated for this year's FifPro Player of the Year award.

The former Juventus and Real Madrid man received the nomination, despite dramatically bowing of the game by getting himself sent off when he head-butted Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest during this summer's World Cup final.

Zidane is one 55 players to be short-listed for the award, with Materazzi and 2005 winner Ronaldinho also on the list.

The Premiership is well represented on the list of 55, with 18 players earning a nod for the award.

Chelsea have the most players represented on the list with nine players, which include summer signings Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack and Andrei Shevchenko.

Six England internationals are also in contention, with Ashley Cole, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard also making the list.

The list was comprised from 43,000 ballots received from players around the world, with a world XI also to be chosen as a result as well.

The 2006 FifPro Player of the Year award takes place on November 6 in Athens, Greece.

2006 FifPro Player of the Year award short-list

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Petr Cech (Czech Republic), Dida (Brazil), Jens Lehmann (Germany), Edwin van der Sar (Holland).

Defenders: Roberto Ayala (Argentina), Cafu (Brazi), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), Roberto Carlos (Brazil), Cicinho (Brazil), Ashley Cole (England), Rio Ferdinand (England), William Gallas (France), Fabio Grosso (Italy), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Lucio (Brazil), Rafael Marquez (Mexico), Marco Materazzi (Italy), Miguel (Portugal), Alessandro Nesta (Italy), Carles Puyol (Spain), Willy Sagnol (France), John Terry (England), Lilian Thuram (France), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy).

Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Germany), Deco (Portugal), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Luis Figo (Portugal), Gennaro Gattuso (Italy), Steven Gerrard (England), Kaka (Brazil), Frank Lampard (England), Claude Makalele (France), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Juan Roman Riquelme (Argentina), Francesco Totti (Italy), Patrick Vieira (France), Ze Roberto (Brazil), Zinedine Zidane (France).

Strikers: Adriano (Brazil), Hernan Crespo (Argentina), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Thierry Henry (France), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Arjen Robben (Holland), Ronaldinho (Brazil), Ronaldo (Brazil), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Wayne Rooney (England), Andrei Shevchenko (Ukraine), Luca Toni (Italy), Fernando Torres (Spain).