ZURICH, Switzerland (AFP) - England and Manchester United teenage sensation Wayne Rooney has made it on to the shortlist for FIFA's 2004 Player of the Year award.
Rooney figured in a group of 35 candidates for the coveted football honour released by FIFA Tuesday - a list that also included Chelsea attacker Didier Drogba and Rooney's fellow England international, and Liverpool skipper, Steven Gerrard.
Theodoros Zagorakis, who guided Greece to Euro 2004 glory in Portugal, also made it along with David Beckham and the England captain's Real Madrid teammates Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane, the current holder of the title.
For the first time the panel of voters has been increased to include for the every club captain in the world in addition to votes cast by their team managers.
The winner will be announced by world football's governing body at the closing ceremony of their centenary anniversary year at the Zurich Opera House on December 20.
Nominations for the 2004 FIFA Player Of The Year Award
Adriano (BRA), Roberto Ayala (ARG), Michael Ballack (GER), Milan Baros (CZE), David Beckham (ENG), Gianluigi Buffon (ITA), Cafu (BRA), Cristiano Ronaldo (POR), Deco (POR), Didier Drogba (CIV), Samuel Eto'o (CMR), Luis Figo (POR), Steven Gerrard (ENG), Ryan Giggs (WAL), Thierry Henry (FRA), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SWE), Oliver Kahn (GER), Kaka (BRA), Frank Lampard (ENG), Henrik Larsson (SWE), Roy Makaay (NED), Paolo Maldini (ITA), Pavel Nedved (CZE), Alessandro Nesta (ITA), Michael Owen (ENG), Robert Pires (FRA), Raul (SPA), Roberto Carlos (BRA), Ronaldinho (BRA), Ronaldo (BRA), Wayne Rooney (ENG), Andrej Shevchenko (UKR), Ruud van Nistelrooy (NED), Theodoros Zagorakis (GRE), Zinedine Zidane (FRA)