Rooney on Ballon d'Or list

Five Premier League players have been named on the shortlist for the 2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or, including Manchester United duo Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.

Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli are also among the 23 players in the running to be recognised as the world's greatest player after helping Manchester City win the Premier League title last season.

Didier Drogba has been included after making a huge contribution to Chelsea's UEFA Champions League success, while there are a number of contenders from Spain's Euro 2012-winning squad.

The shortlist will be narrowed down to three on 29th November, with Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid the favourites to finish first and second.

Meanwhile, ten candidates have been revealed in the Coach of the Year category, with Chelsea's Roberto Di Matteo, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini and Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United all in the frame.

Vicente del Bosque, Pep Guardiola, Jupp Heynckes, Jurgen Klopp, Joachim Low, Jose Mourinho and Cesare Prandelli have also been credited for their good work over the past 12 months.

FIFA Ballon d'Or shortlist: Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Man City), Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real Madrid), Mario Balotelli (Italy, Man City), Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus), Sergio Busquets (Spain, Barcelona), Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea/Shanghai Shenhua), Radamel Falcao (Colombia, Atletico Madrid), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Milan/PSG), Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), Manuel Neuer (Germany, Bayern Munich), Neymar (Brazil, Santos) Mesut Ozil (Germany, Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Spain, Barcelona), Andrea Pirlo (Italy, Juventus), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (England, Man Utd), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast, Man City), Robin van Persie (Holland, Arsenal/Man Utd) Xavi (Spain, Barcelona)