Franck Ribery leads the way as European champions Bayern Munich boast
six players in the 23-man shortlist for the 2013 Ballon d'Or announced
on Tuesday.
Ribery, 30, who contributed significantly to his club's Treble
triumph last season, is joined by teammates Philipp Lahm, Thomas
Mueller, Manuel Neuer, Arjen Robben and Bastian Schweinsteiger among the
nominees, who are selected by FIFA's Football Committee and experts
from France Football magazine.
All players nominated for the award are currently based in Europe,
with Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale and Liverpool's Luis Suarez also
named alongside previous winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The list will be whittled down to three players in early December,
with national team captains and coaches, as well as a select group of
media representatives, voting for the winner, who will be announced on
Jan. 13 in Zurich.
Robert Lewandowski, of Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund,
is also nominated to complete a seven-strong Bundesliga contingent, the
biggest single grouping from a European league.
Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is joined by teammates
Edinson Cavani and Thiago Silva as well as Monaco forward Radamel
Falcao to give Ligue 1 four representatives.
Following his spectacular four-goal burst against Anderlecht in the
Champions League last week, French media believe Ibrahimovic, 32 could
sneak up on the rails to pip four-time winner Messi, regular candidate
Ronaldo and Ribery.
Messi's Barcelona colleagues Xavi and Andres Iniesta are included, as
is Neymar, whose spectacular start to the European chapter of his
career has increased his profile still further. Summer signing Bale,
after a fine final year with Tottenham, joins Ronaldo as Real Madrid's
sole representatives.
Former Madrid man Mesut Ozil makes the list, forming part of a
Premier League-based quintet which also features Robin van Persie, Eden
Hazard, Yaya Toure and Suarez. Italian veteran Andrea Pirlo of Juventus
is Serie A's sole representative.
The man who led Bayern to the summit of European club football last
season, Jupp Heynckes, heads the ten-strong shortlist for the FIFA World
Coach of the Year for Men's Football with fellow retiree Sir Alex
Ferguson also in the running.
Ballon d'Or shortlist: Gareth Bale (Real
Madrid/Wales), Edinson Cavani (Paris St Germain/Uruguay), Radamel Falcao
(Monaco/Colombia), Eden Hazard (Chelsea/Belgium), Zlatan Ibrahimovic
(Paris St Germain/Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona/Spain), Philipp
Lahm (Bayern Munich/Germany), Robert Lewandowski (Borussia
Dortmund/Poland), Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina), Thomas Mueller
(Bayern Munich/Germany), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich/Germany), Neymar
(Barcelona/Brazil), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal/Germany), Andrea Pirlo
(Juventus/Italy), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich/France), Arjen Robben
(Bayern Munich/Netherlands), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Portugal),
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich/Germany), Luis Suarez
(Liverpool/Uruguay), Thiago Silva (Paris St Germain/Brazil), Yaya Toure
(Manchester City/Ivory Coast), Robin van Persie (Manchester
United/Netherlands), Xavi (Barcelona/Spain).
Coach of the year shortlist: Carlo Ancelotti (Real
Madrid/ex-Paris St Germain), Rafael Benitez (Napoli/ex-Chelsea), Antonio
Conte (Juventus), Vicente Del Bosque (Spain), Sir Alex Ferguson
(ex-Manchester United), Jupp Heynckes (ex-Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp
(Borussia Dortmund), Jose Mourinho (Chelsea/ex-Real Madrid), Luiz Felipe
Scolari (Brazil), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal).
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