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Wayne Rooney on FIFA shortlist
MANCHESTER UNITED forward Wayne Rooney is for the second year running the only English player to be included in the 23-man shortlist by FIFA for the Ballon D’Or.
The nomination underlines the high regard with which Rooney is held in world football.
Rooney scored regularly in 2012 but did not pick up any trophies with his club and played a limited role at the European Championship for England, who were eliminated at the quarter-final stage.
English champions Manchester City have three players on the list in Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli and Yaya Toure, while Robin van Persie, who was the Premier League’s highest scorer last term with Arsenal and joined Rooney at United in the summer, is also included.
Both United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and City’s Roberto Mancini have been nominated in the coach of the yearsection, along with Roberto Di Matteo, whose Chelsea side won the Champions League and FA Cup, and Vicente del Bosque, who guided Spain to the Euro 2012 title.
The nomination underlines the high regard with which Manchester United star Wayne Rooney is held in world football
Didier Drogba, a key figure in Di Matteo’s side who has since left for China, has been recognised, as have 2011 winner Lionel Messi (Barcelona) and runner-up Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid).
The winners will be announced on January 7.
• MESSI has been presented with the Golden Boot as Europe’s top league scorer with 50 goals last season.