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Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas and Fernando Torres head a 23-strong list of candidates for the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year title, the sport's world governing body said on Wednesday.

United's Ronaldo, Real Madrid keeper Casillas and Liverpool striker Torres are also top candidates for this year's European Footballer of the Year award, or Ballon d'Or, organised by France Football magazine.

The winner, voted by national captains and coaches, will be unveiled on January 12 at Zurich's opera theatre. FIFA also unveiled the names of the 10 nominees for the women's version of the award.

Men's FIFA World Player of the Year nominees:

Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), Sergio Aguero (Argentina), Andrei Arshavin (Russia), Michael Ballack (Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Deco (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Steven Gerrard (England), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Kaka (Brazil), Frank Lampard (England), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Franck Ribery (France), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), John Terry (England), Fernando Torres (Spain), Ruud van Nistelrooy (The Netherlands), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain)

Women's FIFA World Player of the Year nominees:

Nadine Angerer (Germany), Shannon Boxx (USA), Cristiane (Brazil), Daniela (Brazil), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Christine Sinclair (Canada), Kelly Smith (England), Hope Solo (USA) and Ingvild Stensland (Norway).

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