Eto’o and Drogba make shortlist

African duo Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o have been named on the final shortlist of 10 for the 2009 European Player of the Year award. The Ivorian and Cameroon internationals join England’s Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney on the shortlist for the award, known as the Ballon d’Or, with the winner being announced on 1 December. Former Liberian international George Weah is the only African player ever to have won the award. In 1995, he won it as well as the African and World player of the year awards. Barcelona have four players selected – Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as well as former star Eto’o. Kaka and 2008 winner Cristiano Ronaldo complete the list. Argentine star Messi is the favourite to win the competition, organised by France Football magazine and voted for in a poll of football journalists. Liverpool striker Fernando Torres just missed out on the list of finalists, coming 11th, with Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas 12th from the 30-player shortlist named last month.

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The 10 Ballon d’Or finalists:
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) Chelsea
Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) Barcelona then Inter Milan
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) Manchester United then Real Madrid
Steven Gerrard (England) Liverpool
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) Inter Milan then Barcelona
Andres Iniesta (Spain) Barcelona
Kaka (Brazil) AC Milan then Real Madrid
Lionel Messi (Argentina) Barcelona
Wayne Rooney (England) Manchester United
Xavi (Spain) Barcelona

BBC