Fernando Torres, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney are among eight Premier League players nominated for Fifa's World Player of the Year award.

Chelsea's John Terry, Michael Essien, Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba are also named on the 23-man shortlist for the accolade, which was won by Cristiano Ronaldo last year.

The Real Madrid and Portugal forward is among the nominees again, alongside Barcelona's Lionel Messi, who is among the favourites.

Spain, the European champions, provide six nominees, including goalkeeper Iker Casillas, Carles Puyol, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, David Villa and Torres.

England have four players on the list while Brazil, with three, and France, with two, are the only other countries with more than one player nominated.

Brazilian Marta, who has won the women's award for the last three years, is once again included on a shortlist of ten names alongside England's Kelly Smith.

Fifa World Player 2009 shortlist:
Michael Ballack (Germany)
Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
Iker Casillas (Spain)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Diego (Brazil)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
Michael Essien (Ghana)
Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon)
Steven Gerrard (England)
Thierry Henry (France)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)
Andres Iniesta (Spain)
Kaka (Brazil)
Frank Lampard (England)
Luis Fabiano (Brazil)
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Carles Puyol (Spain)
Franck Ribery (France)
Wayne Rooney (England)
John Terry (England)
Fernando Torres (Spain)
David Villa (Spain)
Xavi (Spain)

Fifa Women's World Player 2009 shortlist:
Nadine Angerer (Germany)
Sonia Bompastor (France)
Cristiane (Brazil)
Inka Grings (Germany)
Mana Iwabuchi (Japan)
Simone Laudehr (Germany)
Marta (Brazil)
Birgit Prinz (Germany)
Kelly Smith (England)
Abby Wambach (USA)

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