[BALLON D'OR: Breakdown] Spain leads all countries with seven players on the 23-player shortlist for the 2012 Ballon d’Or released by FIFA and France Football. Twelve finalists play in La Liga, including six from Real Madrid and five from Barcelona, including Lionel Messi, winner of the last three awards.

Italy is the only other country with more than two players on the shortlist. The English Premier League is second behind La Liga with five players among the final 23.

Messi and Cristano Ronaldo of Real Madrid are the favorites.

The winner of the award will be announced at the annual FIFA Gala held in Zurich on Jan. 7. Balloting is conducted by national team coaches, captains and media representatives.

Country
7 Spain
3 Italy
2 Argentina
2 Germany
2 Ivory Coast
1 Brazil
1 Colombia
1 England
1 France
1 Netherlands
1 Portugal
1 Sweden

Leagues
12 Spain
5 England
2 Italy
1 Brazil
1 China
1 France
1 Germany

Clubs
6 Real Madrid
5 Barcelona
3 Man. City
2 Juventus
2 Man. United
1 Atletico Madrid
1 Bayern Munich
1 Paris SG
1 Santos
1 Shanghai Shenhua

BALLON D'OR SHORTLIST
Sergio Aguero (Argentina)
Xabi Alonso (Spain)
Mario Balotelli (Italy)
Karim Benzema (France)
Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
Sergio Busquets (Spain)
Iker Casillas (Spain)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
Radamel Falcao (Colombia)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)
Andres Iniesta (Spain)
Lionel Messi (Spain)
Neymar (Brazil)
Manuel Neuer (Germany)
Mesut Ozil (Germany)
Gerard Pique (Spain)
Andrea Pirlo (Italy)
Sergio Ramos (Spain)
Wayne Rooney (England)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)
Robin van Persie (Netherlands)
Xavi (Spain)