Here's the list, it includes 5 Italian players and number that play on Italian teams. Adriano (Inter) Ailton (Schalke 04) Ayala (Valencia) Baraja (Valencia) Baros (Liverpool) Barthez (Marseille) Beckham (Real Madrid) Buffon (Juventus) Cech (Chelsea) Charisteas (Werder Bremen) Deco (Barcelona) Dellas (Roma) Drogba (Chelsea) Emerson (Juventus) Eto'o (Barcelona) Figo (Real Madrid) Giuly (Barcelona) Henry (Arsenal) Ibrahimovic (Juventus) Juninho (Lyon) Kaka (Milan) Kapsis (Bordeaux) Lampard (Chelsea) Larsson (Barcelona) Maldini (Milan) Maniche (Porto) Micoud (Werder Bremen) Mista (Valencia) Morientes (Real Madrid) Nedved (Juventus) Nesta (Milan) Nikopolidis (Olympiakos) Pirlo (Milan) Reyes (Arsenal) Carvalho (Chelsea) Ronaldinho (Barcelona) Ronaldo (Real Madrid) C. Ronaldo (Manchester Utd) Rooney (Manchester Utd) Rosicky (Borussia Dortmund) Scholes (Manchester Utd) Seedorf (Milan) Seitaridis (Porto) Shevchenko (Milan) Totti (Roma) Van Nistelrooy (Manchester Utd) Vicente (Valencia) Vieira (Arsenal) Zagorakis (Bologna) Zidane (Real Madrid)
Only Sheva and Adriano have a realisitic chance of winning it from Serie A. Henry, Ronaldinho, and Deco will be the other players in contention.
Gianluca Zambrotta again misses out! This man just is the epitomy of greatness. Maybe he wouldn't have won the award but certainly would figure in top 10 or 20 as a stretch! Another notable absentee is Arjen Robben amazing at Euro 2004, and very good for PSV and now in top gear for Chelsea! How'd these guys even get a sniff of the list this year!Great players but 2004 c'mon! David Beckham Tomas Rosicky Paul Scholes
Zambrotta has the same disadvantage that Paolo Maldin has had in his entire career. He is a defender. I think Maldini only finished in the top ten of the Balon d'Or twice in his whole career.