FIFA: List of 23 nominees for the Ballon d'Or 2011

The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) announced Tuesday the list of the 23 players nominated for the Ballon d'Or 2011. The latter will be awarded Jan. 9 in Zurich, Switzerland.
On the 23 nominees, there are seven Spanish: Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Piqué, David Villa, Xavi Hernandez, Iker Casillas and Xabi Alonso.

Portugal will be represented by Ronaldo and Nani while Italy does not have any player. Germany two players from Bayern Munich, Schweinsteiger and Thomas Muller, and Brazil two candidates, Dani Alves and Neymar. Wayne Rooney will be the only English candidate, and the Eto the only African candidate for this prestigious title.

Here are the 23 players nominated for the Golden Ball and the ten coaches nominated for the Coach of the year.

The 23 players nominated:

Eric Abidal (FRA / Barcelona)
Karim Benzema (FRA / Real Madrid),
Sergio Aguero (ARG / Manchester City),
Iker Casillas (SP / Real Madrid),
Cristiano Ronaldo (POR / Real Madrid),
Daniel Alves (BRA / Barcelona)
Samuel Eto'o (CMR / Anji Makachkala)
Cesc Fabregas (SP / FC Barcelona)
Diego Forlan (URU / Inter Milan),
Andres Iniesta (SP / FC Barcelona)
Lionel Messi (ARG / FC Barcelona)
Thomas Müller (GER / Bayern Munich),
Nani (POR / Manchester United),
Neymar (BRA, Santos)
Mesut Ozil (GER / Real Madrid),
Gerard Piqué (ESP / FC Barcelona)
Wayne Rooney (ENG / Manchester United)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (GER / Bayern Munich),
Wesley Sneijder (NED / Inter Milan),
Luis Suarez (URU / Liverpool)
David Villa (SP / FC Barcelona)
Xabi Alonso (SP / Real Madrid),
Xavi Hernandez (SP / FC Barcelona).

The 10 coaches nominated:

Vicente Del Bosque (ESP / Team Spain)
Alex Ferguson (SCO / Manchester United),
Rudi Garcia (FRA / Lille)
Josep Guardiola (SP / FC Barcelona)
Jürgen Klopp (GER / Borussia Dortmund)
Joachim Löw (GER / Team of Germany)
Jose Mourinho (POR / Real Madrid),
Oscar Tabarez (URU / Team Uruguay),
André Villas-Boas (POR / Chelsea),
Arsene Wenger (FRA / Arsenal).