FIFA has announced their (not so short) shortlist for 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year. I think I read Romario’s name in there but the thing is so long I can’t even remember. Maybe they do that so that all players feel included in the event. Anyhow, the names of the three finalists (now that is a shortlist) in each category will be announced in early December.

And the nominees are (with my vote):

Men’s

Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)
Petr Cech (Czech Republic)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Deco (Portugal)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
Michael Essien (Ghana)
Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
Gennaro Gattuso (Italy)
Steven Gerrard (England)
Thierry Henry (France)
Juninho (Brazil)
Kaka (Brazil) - WINNER !
Miroslav Klose (Germany)
Philipp Lahm (Germany)
Frank Lampard (England)
Rafael Marquez (Mexico)
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Alessandro Nesta (Italy)
Andrea Pirlo (Italy)
Franck Ribery (France)
Juan Roman Riquelme (Argentina)
Ronaldinho (Brazil)
Wayne Rooney (England)
John Terry (England)
Carlos Tevez (Argentina)
Lilian Thuram (France)
Fernando Torres (Spain)
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands)
Patrick Vieira (France)

Women’s
Abby Wambach (USA)
Adjoa Bayor (Ghana)
Ane Stangeland Horpestad (Norway)
Ariane Hingst (Germany)
Bente Nordby (Norway)
Birgit Prinz (Germany)
Cathrine Paaske Sörensen (Denmark)
Christie George (Nigeria)
Christine Sinclair (Canada)
Cristiane (Brazil)
Daniela (Brazil)
Duan Han (China)
Formiga (Brazil)
Ingvild Stensland (Norway)
Jie Li (China)
Kelly Smith (England)
Kerstin Stegemann (Germany)
Kristine Lilly (USA)
Lisa de Vanna (Australia)
Marta (Brazil) - WINNER !
Nadine Angerer (Germany)
Perpetua Nkwocha (Nigeria)
Ragnhild Gulbrandsen (Norway)
Rebecca Smith (New Zeland)
Renate Lingor (Germany)
Un Suk Ri (North Corea)