David Beckham, who made his way stateside this summer to play for Los Angeles Galaxy, has become the first Major League Soccer player to be short-listed for Fifpro's World Best XI player Awards.
LONDON: David Beckham, who made his way stateside this summer to play for Los Angeles Galaxy, has become the first Major League Soccer player to be short-listed for Fifpro's World Best XI player Awards.
The worldwide players' union has announced a 55-man list for their third annual awards ahead of the final announcement on October 5.
Members were invited to vote for a goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards. The English Premier League boast the highest number of nominees - with nine Englishmen among those chosen - while Spain and Italy were also dominant.
Beckham, who played most of his career for European giants Manchester United and Real Madrid, had shifted to Major League Soccer this year for an astronomical fee.
UEFA Champions League winners AC Milan has nine players in the elite selection followed by Manchester United with eight and Barcelona, Chelsea and Real Madrid with seven each.
The list has 11 Italians, nine Englishmen and seven Brazilians.
The shortlist:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Petr Cech (Czech Republic), Nelson de Jesus Silva 'Dida' (Brazil), Edwin van der Sar (Holland)
Defenders: Eric Abidal (France), Daniel Alves (Brazil), Roberto Ayala (Argentina), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), Roberto Carlos da Silva (Brazil), Jamie Carragher (England), Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal), Cristian Chivu (Romania), Ashley Cole (England), Rio Ferdinand (England), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Ferreira Lucio (Brazil), Paolo Maldini (Italy), Marco Materazzi (Italy), Alessandro Nesta (Italy), Carlos Puyol (Spain), Sergio Ramos (Spain), John Terry (England), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy).
Midfielders: David Beckham (England), Anderson Deco (Portugal), Mickael Essien (Ghana), Gennaro Gattuso (Italy), Steven Gerrard (England), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Ricardo Kaka (Brazil), Frank Lampard (England), Claude Makelele (France), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Juan Roman Riquelme (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Paul Scholes (England), Clarence Seedorf (Holland), Xavi (Spain).
Forwards: Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Thierry Henry (France), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Filippo Inzaghi (Italy), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Holland), Ronaldinho (Brazil), Ronaldo (Brazil), Wayne Rooney (England), Carlos Tevez (Argentina), Luca Toni (Italy), Francesco Totti (Italy), David Villa (Spain).
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