FIFA reveals player of the year nominees

World football's ruling body FIFA on Friday revealed the remaining contenders for the 2008 World Player and FIFA Women's World Player awards, to be handed out here on January 12, 2009.

The male nominees are Kaka (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Fernando Torres (Spain), and Xavi (Spain).

Nadine Angerer (Germany), Cristiane (Brazil), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany) and Kelly Smith (England) will contest the women's award.

This year heralds an increased field of contenders, moving up to five from the three of previous years.

All the nominees were confirmed after a poll in which the coaches and captains of men's and women's national teams from around the world cast their votes on the basis of a list of men's and women's candidates drawn up by FIFA.

In addition, the customary FIFA Presidential Award and the FIFA Fair Play Award will be presented.

AC Milan striker Kaka won the award last year, adding the accolade to his European Footballer of the Year honour.

Ronaldo recently picked up the prestigious Ballon d'Or for the European Footballer of the Year.