FIVE IN FIFA NOMINATIONS

The shortlist has been announced for this year's FIFA World Player of the Year, with no fewer than five Chelsea players nominated for the award.

Petr Cech, John Terry, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba have all been named on the prestigious list of 30 players from around the world, put together by FIFA's technical committee.

The Blues are the second best represented club in the list, with only Barcelona (seven) having more nominations.

Voting is undertaken by the coach and captain of each country's side, with individuals not allowed to vote for players from their own nation.

This means that not only are JT and Didier nominated, they also have the responsibility of placing a vote before the December 17 ceremony in Zurich.

Previously, Frank Lampard finished second in 2005 behind Ronaldinho, while Andriy Shevchenko was placed third in 2004, when the Brazilian won the award for the first time.

This year's shortlist in full is:

Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy), Cech (Chelsea, Czech Rep), Ronaldo (Man Utd, Portugal), Deco (Barcelona, Portugal), Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon), Gattuso (Milan, Italy), Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Henry (Barcelona, France), Juninho (Lyon, Brazil), Kaka (Milan, Brazil), Klose (Bayern Munich, Germany), Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany), Lampard (Chelsea, England), Marquez (Barcelona, Mexico), Messi (Barcelona, Argentina), Nesta (Milan, Italy), Pirlo (AC Milan, Italy), Ribéry (Bayern Munich, France), Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Rooney (Man Utd, England), Terry (Chelsea, England), Tevez (Man Utd, Argentina), Thuram (Barcelona, France), Torres (Liverpool, Spain), Van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid, Holland), Vieira (Internazionale, France).

This is the 17th year FIFA have named a World Player of the Year. The past winners (which include George Weah prior to his half-season at Chelsea) are:

2006 Fabio Cannavaro
2005 Ronaldinho
2004 Ronaldinho
2003 Zinedine Zidane
2002 Ronaldo
2001 Luis Figo
2000 Zinedine Zidane
1999 Rivaldo
1998 Zinedine Zidane
1997 Ronaldo
1996 Ronaldo
1995 George Weah
1994 Romario
1993 Roberto Baggio
1992 Marco van Basten
1991 Lothar Matthäus