FIFA on Tuesday released a shortlist of 23 players who will contest the inaugural 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or with seven members of Spain's victorious World Cup winning squad included.

Germany has five players in the running for the world player of the year award, while four players from European Champions League winners Inter Milan are listed.

Last year the trophy went to Barcelona's Argentinian striker Lionel Messi and he is again in the hunt for this year's award.

The revamped award is a combination of the FIFA World Player of the Year award and the France Football Ballon d'Or trophy which have been run separately until now.

The winner will be revealed at the first FIFA Ballon d'Or gala in Zurich on January 10.

Players

Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid/Spain), Daniel Alves (Barcelona/Brazil), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid/Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/Portugal), Didier Drogba (Chelsea/Cote d'Ivoire), Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milan/Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal/Spain), Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid/Uruguay), Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland/Ghana), Andris Iniesta (Barcelona/Spain), Jzlio Cisar (Inter Milan/Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich/Germany), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich/Germany), Maicon (Inter Milan/Brazil), Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina), Thomas M|ller (Bayern Munich/Germany), Mesut Vzil (Real Madrid/Germany), Carles Puyol (Barcelona/Spain), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich/Netherlands), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich/Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan/Netherlands), David Villa (Barcelona/Spain), Xavi (Barcelona/Spain).

Coaches

Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea/Italy), Vicente del Bosque (Spain/Spain), Alex Ferguson (Manchester United/Scotland), Pep Guardiola (Barcelona/Spain), Joachim Loew (Germany/Germany), Jose Mourinho (Inter Milan/Real Madrid/Portugal), Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay/Uruguay), Louis Van Gaal (Bayern Munich/Netherlands), Bert Van Marwijk (Netherlands/Netherlands), Arshne Wenger (Arsenal/France)