TEN PLAYERS who play in the Premier League have been short-listed for of Fifa World Player of the Year award.

Chelsea are the best represented club on the list with five players led by captain and defensive stalwart John Terry.

He was joined on the list by midfielders Frank Lampard, Deco, Michael Ballack and forward Didier Drogba.

The others on the list from Premier League sides include Liverpool's Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Euro08 champions Spain provided six of the contenders on the list of 23 nominations.

Besides Fabregas and Torres, Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, Barcelona midfield duo Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez and Valencia hotshot David Villa also made the list published by world football's governing body.

Frontrunners

Last year's winner, Brazilian playmaker Kaka, is again in the running, but the frontrunners for the game's most prized individual award are believed to be Portugal winger Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi.

While Ronaldo's goals played a major role in Manchester United's Premier League and Champions League double last season, Messi inspired Argentina to win the Olympic gold medal.

Ronaldo finished third last year, while Messi was runner-up to Kaka.

The candidate lists were drawn up by Fifa football committee, will now be voted on by national team coaches and captains, with the top three finalists announced in December.

The winner will then be announced at Fifa's World Player Gala in the Zurich Opera House on 12 Jan.

Wire Services

Nominations for the 2008 Fifa World Player: 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 (Holland), David Villa (Spain), Xavi Hernandez (Spain).