Canadian up for FIFA World Player of the Year

[RedandWhite]

http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20030927/sinclair_62314.jpg

ZURICH, Switzerland (CP) - Canadian striker Christine Sinclair is up for FIFA World Player of the Year.

The 22-year-old from Burnaby, B.C., has scored 53 goals in 71 internationals for the Canadian women's team. She plays collegiate soccer for the University of Portland where Monday she was named player of the week in the West Coast Conference for the fourth time in seven weeks.

Sinclair was one of 24 women and 30 men on FIFA's shortlists released Thursday.

FIFA will announce the three male and three female finalists in late November or early December. The winners will be announced at the 15th FIFA World Player Gala on Dec. 19, at the Zurich Opera House.

Last year's winners were Brazilian striker Ronaldinho, who beat out France's Thierry Henry and Ukraine's Andrei Shevchenko, and repeat winner Birgit Prinz of Germany, who edged now-retired Mia Hamm and Brazilian youngster Marta.

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard and AC Milan playmaker Kaka, who squared off in the Champions League final in May, find themselves up against each other again for this year's men's award.

Ronaldinho has been tipped to win again after another great year for club and country, but will be up against some stiff competition.

This year's shortlist was drawn up by international experts on FIFA's different committees.

Like last year, the coaches and captains of men's and women's national teams around the world will be eligible to vote, FIFA said. They have all received the player lists and will have several weeks to submit their votes.

FIFA will also present the Presidential Award and the Fair Play Award for 2005 at the gala.

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Shortlist

Men

Adriano (Inter Milan, Brazil), Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich, Germany), David Beckham (Real Madrid, England), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Cafu (AC Milan, Brazil), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal), Deco (FC Barcelona, Portugal), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Samuel Eto'o (FC Barcelona, Cameroon), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Thierry Henry (Arsenal, France), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Juventus, Sweden), Kaka (AC Milan, Brazil), Frank Lampard (Chelsea, England), Paolo Maldini (AC Milan, Italy), Pavel Nedved (Juventus, Czech Republic), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan, Italy), Jay-Jay Okocha (Bolton, Nigeria), Raul Gonzalez (Real Madrid, Spain), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Arjen Robben (Chelsea, Netherlands), Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid, Brazil), Robinho (Real Madrid, Brazil), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Brazil), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, England), Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan, Ukraine), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United, Netherlands), Zidane Zinedine (Real Madrid, France).

Women

Shannon Boxx (U.S.), Maribel Dominguez (Mexico), Laura Georges (France), Solveig Gulbrandsen (Norway), Ho Sun Hui (South Korea), Laura Kalmari (Finland), Satu Kunnas (Finland), Renate Lingor (Germany), Hanna Ljungberg (Sweden), Hanna Marklund (Sweden), Marta (Brazil), Sandra Minnert (Germany), Portia Modise (South Africa), Malin Mostrom (Sweden), Perpetua Nkwocha (Nigeria), Nordby Bente (Norway), Cathrine Paaske Sorensen (Denmark), Park Eun Sun (South Korea), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Homare Sawa (Japan), Christine Sinclair (Canada), Kelly Smith (England), Ane Stangeland (Norway), Christine Welsh (U.S.).

[Canadian_Supporter]

Good luck to her.

I believe she has scored 24 goals in 13 games for the University of Portland so far this year.

[jpg75]

Good luck to her.

I believe she has scored 24 goals in 13 games for the University of Portland so far this year.
that's alot of goals! unfortunately i don't think FIFA will take a serious look at NCAA stats in making its decision

[Canadian_Supporter]

Oh now, they probably won't, but she is having a good season in the NCAA. Hopefully she can continue with the women's national team... whenever they play again.