Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo is included on the shortlist for the FIFA World Player of the Year award. The Portugal and Manchester United winger has been nominated alongside Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Xavi, AC Milan's Kaka and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.

Ronaldo was third in last year's FIFA vote behind Brazilian winner Kaka and Argentinian Messi but is the overwhelming favourite for the presentation in Zurich on January 12.

This is the first year five players, rather than three, have been named on the shortlist.