FCBARCELONA.CAT
Main menu
Content menu
Football
10.10.2007 14:02
Seven players on FIFA World Player list
Sandra Sarmiento/Sergi Nogueras
FC Barcelona have had seven players nominated on the shortlist for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year with the winner being announced at a ceremony on December 17.
The Blaugrana are out in front as the club side with the most players to make it on to the 30-man list to win the award as the most impressive player over the past 12 months.
Thierry Henry, Lilian Thuram, Rafa Márquez, Deco, Samuel
Eto'o, Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho are the seven names from Barça that have been chosen for the
award by a FIFA committee. Now the coaches and captains of 208 national teams will vote for their
top three favourites.
Ten from Spain and England
Only six of the 30 players ply their trade in Serie A, while the Premiership and la Primera provide ten each, three come from the Bundesliga and only Juninho Pernambucano plays in France.
Ronaldinho looking to level with Ronaldo
If Ronaldinho wins the award then he will equal Ronaldo's
record of winning the trophy on three occasions. The former Barça star was voted as the world's
best play in 1996, 1997 and 2002. Ronaldinho has won it in 2004 and 2005.
Four Brazilans before
The FIFA World Player of the Year award was inaugurated in 1991 and since then four Barça players
have won the honour and they were all Brazilian. Romario was first i 1994, then came Ronaldo in
1996, Rivaldo followed in 1999 and Ronaldinho has scooped the award twice, in 2004 and 2005.
