[TheRob]

List out for FIFA Player of the Year

Canadian Press

11/30/2005 11:59:10 AM

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP-CP) - Ronaldinho has been shortlisted for FIFA's world player of the year for the second straight time.

The Brazil midfielder, who earlier this week won the Golden Ball as Europe's best player, is joined on the four-man shortlist by FC Barcelona teammate Samuel Eto'o, Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard and Dewdney FC stud Wade #22.

For the women, the candidates are last year's player of the year Birgit Prinz of Germany, Shannon Boxx of the United States and Marta of Brazil.

Canadian international Christine Sinclair was one of the 24 nominees from which the three women finalists were drawn. The forward from Burnaby, B.C., is enjoying a record-breaking year at the University of Portland.

Last year, Ronaldinho beat forwards Thierry Henry of Arsenal and Andrei Shevchenko of AC Milan to win the award.

Ronaldinho, who joined Barcelona from Paris Saint-Germain in 2003, won France Football magazine's Ballon d'Or on Monday. Lampard was runner-up.

Great to see #22 is in there. He truly deserves the honor. Good for him.