Seven Spaniards dominate this year's shortlist for Ballon d'Or

World Cup winners Spain have seven players featured in a 23-man shortlist for the Fifa Ballon d'Or, unveiled by football's governing body and France Football magazine yesterday.

A Spaniard last won the coveted prize in 1960 when Luis Suarez triumphed. Included in this year's list is Barcelona's Andres Iniesta, who netted the only goal in extra time to defea the Netherlands in the final.

Barcelona have six players in the list, four of them Spanish, including David Villa who joined from Valencia during the close season.

Last year's Ballon d'Or victor Lionel Messi of Argentina is also there as La Liga emerged as the most represented league in the list with 11 players.

The Barclays Premier League only had three players in the shortlist, none of them English, and Ghana's Asamoah Gyan of Sunderland actually played the whole 2009/10 season at Stade Rennes in Ligue 1.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, who had an indifferent World Cup, was not on the list.

No French players were on the list, following France's fiasco in South Africa. Champions League winners Inter Milan had four players on the list.

The winner will be announced on 10 January, 2011 in Zurich. The gong, formerly known as the European Footballer of the Year award, is voted on by journalists from across the world.

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier insists he is unsurprised no English players are contesting the award given the lack of success in the World Cup and Champions League during 2010.

He said: "The Ballon D'Or usually takes into account the World Cup or the European Championships of that year and also if a player has won the Champions League, for instance. I mean, no English team won the Champions League for 2010 and England went out before the quarter-finals in South Africa. That's why, it's not a surprise.

"Usually it's an award for when players have been outstanding throughout the whole year.

"You have to explain why sometimes players are there. Thierry Henry never won the Ballon D'Or but I think he deserved it on account of what he'd done.

"France failed in the (2006 World Cup] final on penalties against Italy and Cannavaro won it.It was between Thierry and Cannavaro."

Shortlist: Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid), Daniel Alves (Brazil, Barcelona), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, Inter Milan), Cesc Fabregas (Spain, Arsenal), Diego Forlan (Uruguay, Atletico Madrid), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana, Stade Rennes, then Sunderland), Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona), Julio Cesar (Brazil, Inter Milan), Miroslav Klose (Germany, Bayern Munich), Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich), Douglas Maicon (Brazil, Inter Milan), Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), Thomas Mueller (Germany, Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Germany, Werder Bremen, then Real Madrid), Carles Puyol (Spain, Barcelona), Arjen Robben (Netherlands, Bayern Munich), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, Bayern Munich), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands, Inter Milan), David Villa (Spain, Valencia, then Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real Madrid), Xavi Hernandez (Spain, Barcelona).