Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo once again headline the FIFA Ballon d'Or award 23-man shortlist.
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Barcelona forward Messi, who took his goal tally for club and country to 301 on Saturday, is in line to become the first player to win the award for a fourth consecutive year.
Barca coach Tito Vilanova was full of praise for the 25-year-old on Monday, saying: "I don't think we'll see a player like him again. Not only for the goals he scores but for the ability he has to read the game."
The 2008 player of the year Ronaldo, who finished runner-up to Messi last year and in 2009, is likely to be the Argentinian's main rival for the award again.
Euro 2012 champions Spain have seven members on the shortlist with Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets, Iker Casillas, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos and Xavi all included.
Vicente del Bosque, who led his team to their third successive major title in Ukraine, was nominated in the coach of the year category alongside Cesare Prandelli, whose Italy side were beaten by Spain in the final.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini as well as Roberto Di Matteo, who guided Chelsea to the Champions League and FA Cup, are also nominated.
Man United forward Wayne Rooney is the only Englishman to be included on the shortlist while Premier League champions City have three players on the list in Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli and Yaya Toure.
The winners of all the awards will be revealed at the FIFA Ballon d'Or gala on January 7, 2013.
Player nominees: Sergio Aguero (Argentina), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Mario Balotelli (Italy), Karim Benzema (France), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Sergio Busquets (Spain), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Radamel Falcao (Colombia), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Manuel Neuer (Germany), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Gerard Pique (Spain), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Sergio Ramos (Spain), Wayne Rooney (England), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast), Robin van Persie (Holland), Xavi (Spain).
Coach nominees: Vicente del Bosque (Spain/Spain national team), Roberto Di Matteo (Italy/Chelsea), Alex Ferguson (Scotland/Manchester United), Pep Guardiola (Spain/Barcelona former coach), Jupp Heynckes (Germany/Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Germany/Borussia Dortmund), Joachim Low (Germany/Germany national team), Roberto Mancini (Italy/Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Portugal/Real Madrid), Cesare Prandelli (Italy/Italy national team).
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