[AWARDS] Barcelona has eight players, including 2009-10 winner Lionel Messi, named to the 23-player shortlist for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or.

Four players from Real Madrid were also nominated, giving Spain's two biggest clubs 12 of the 23 nominees.

No player from Concacaf, not even Mexican star Javier Hernandez of Manchester United, was nominated.

The winner will be announced Jan. 9 at ceremonies in Zurich, where the Coach of the Year, FIFA Women's Player of the Year and FIFA Coach of the Year for Women's Soccer will also be revealed.

The Ballon d'Or will be selected by a panel of national team coaches, captains and journalists.

PLAYERS:
Eric Abidal (France, Barcelona)
Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Man. City)
Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid)
Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid)
Daniel Alves (Brazil, Barcelona)
Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon, Anzhi Makhachkala)
Cesc Fabregas (Spain, Barcelona)
Diego Forlan (Uruguay, Inter Milan)
Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona)
Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona)
Thomas Mueller (Germany, Bayern Munich)
Nani (Portugal, Man. United)
Neymar (Brazil, Santos)
Mesut Ozil (Germany, Real Madrid)
Gerard Pique (Spain, Barcelona)
Wayne Rooney (England, Man. United)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, Bayern Munich)
Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands, Inter Milan)
Luis Suarez (Uruguay, Liverpool)
David Villa (Spain, Barcelona)
Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real Madrid)
Xavi (Spain, Barcelona)

COACHES:
Vicente Del Bosque (Spain, Spain national team)
Alex Ferguson (Scotland, Man. United)
Rudi Garcia (France, Lille)
Josep Guardiola (Spain, Barcelona)
Joachim Loew (Germany, Germany national team)
Juergen Klopp (Germany, Borussia Dortmund)
Jose Mourinho (Portugal, Real Madrid)
Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay, Uruguay national team)
Andre Villas-Boas (Portugal, Chelsea)
Arsene Wenger (France, Arsenal)