The nominations have been announced for the Adidas Golden ball, the award for the best player at this year’s World Cup.
Spain lead the way with three nominations, while the Netherlands and Germany have both garnered two nominations each.
The remaining three candidates represent quarter finalists Uruguay, Argentina and Ghana.
The previous three winners of the Golden Ball were losing finalists: Ronaldo (Brazil), Oliver Kahn (Germany) and Zinedine Zidane (France).
Since its introduction in 1982, a non-finalist has won it on only one occasion: Italy’s Toto Schillaci in 1990.
The nominees:
Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Andreas Iniesta (Spain)
Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Mesut Ozil (Germany)
Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
Xavi (Spain)
Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands)
David Villa (Spain)
To find out who was nominated the best young player at the World Cup click here.
