Golden Ball nominees announced
There are ten Premiership-based players in the running for the Golden Ball prize including Arsenal quintet Thierry Henry, Sol Campbell, Robert Pires, Sylvain Wiltord, and Patrick Vieira.
Manchester United duo Ruud van Nistelrooy and Paul Scholes are in contention along with former winner of the prize Liverpool's Michael Owen, while Chelsea stars Adrian Mutu and Claude Makelele have also been named.
Last year's winner Ronaldo is also in the running for the honour, while Milan captain Paolo Maldini and Juventus ace Pavel Nedved are thought to be the two favourites for the award.
Full list of candidates:
Pablo Aimar (Argentina - Valencia, Spain) Michael Ballack (Germany - Bayern Munich, Germany) David Beckham (England - Real Madrid, Spain) Gianluigi Buffon (Italy - Juventus, Italy) Sol Campbell (England - Arsenal, England) Iker Casillas (Spain - Real Madrid, Spain) Christian Chivu (Romania - Roma, Italy) Deco (Portugal - Porto, Portugal) Alessandro Del Piero (Italy - Juventus, Italy) Dida (Brazil - Milan, Italy) Giovane Elber (Brazil - Lyon, France) Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon - Mallorca, Spain) Luis Figo (Portugal - Real Madrid, Spain) Ludovic Giuly (France - Monaco, France) Thierry Henry (France - Arsenal, England) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden - Ajax, Netherlands) Filippo Inzaghi (Italy - Milan, Italy) Oliver Kahn (Germany - Bayern Munich, Germany) Patrick Kluivert (Netherlands - Barcelona, Spain) Jan Koller (Czech Republic - Borussia Dortmund, Germany) Darko Kovacevic (Serbia & Montenegro - Real Sociedad, Spain) Henrik Larsson (Sweden - Celtic, Scotland) Roy Makaay (Netherlands - Bayern Munich, Germany) Claude Makelele (France - Chelsea, England) Paolo Maldini (Italy - Milan, Italy) Adrian Mutu (Romania - Chelsea, England) Pavel Nedved (Czech Republic - Juventus, Italy) Alessandro Nesta (Italy - Milan, Italy) Nihat Kahveci (Turkey - Real Sociedad, Spain) Michael Owen (England - Liverpool, England) Pauleta (Portugal - Paris St Germain, France) Robert Pires (France - Arsenal, England) Raul (Spain - Real Madrid, Spain) Roberto Carlos (Brazil - Real Madrid, Spain) Ronaldinho (Brazil - Barcelona, Spain) Ronaldo (Brazil - Real Madrid, Spain) Michel Salgado (Spain - Real Madrid, Spain) Paul Scholes (England - Manchester United, England) Andrei Shevchenko (Ukraine - Milan, Italy) Lilian Thuram (Italy - Juventus, Italy) Francesco Toldo (Italy - Internazionale, Italy) Francesco Totti (Italy - Roma, Italy) Hatem Trabelsi (Tunisia - Ajax, Netherlands) David Trezeguet (France - Juventus, Italy) Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Netherlands - Manchester United, England) Patrick Vieira (France - Arsenal, England) Christian Vieri (Italy - Internazionale, Italy) Sylvain Wiltord (France - Arsenal, England) Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy - Juventus, Italy) Zinedine Zidane (France - Real Madrid, Spain)
