( CNN ) -- European and Spanish champions Barcelona dominate the shortlist for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or , the award given to the world 's best footballer . Football 's global governing body announced a 23-man shortlist for the award on Tuesday , with eight members of Josep Guardiola 's Barca squad in the running for the prestigious prize . The award is a combination of the FIFA World Player of the Year accolade and France Football Magazine 's Ballon d'Or , with the new incarnation of the honor awarded for the first time in 2010 . Barcelona 's Argentina star Lionel Messi was the inaugural winner , and he has again been nominated along with clubmates Eric Abidal , Dani Alves , Andres Iniesta , Gerard Pique , Xavi , David Villa and Cesc Fabregas , who signed from English club Arsenal in August . Is Messi the only candidate for the Ballon d'Or ? Barca 's Spanish rivals Real Madrid earned five nominations , including 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal . Brazil striker Neymar , 19 , is the only nominee not based in Europe , having decided to stay with Santos despite being linked with several top overseas clubs . Former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto ' o , who this season left Italy 's Inter Milan for Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia , is the only African player on the shortlist . The winner of the 2011 prize , along with the awards for the world 's best female player and the finest male and female coaches , will be handed out at the second annual FIFA Ballon d'Or gala on January 9 . 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or shortlist : . Eric Abidal ( France ) , Sergio Aguero ( Argentina ) , Xabi Alonso ( Spain ) , Dani Alves ( Brazil ) , Karim Benzema ( France ) , Iker Casillas ( Spain ) , Samuel Eto ' o ( Cameroon ) , Cesc Fabregas ( Spain ) , Diego Forlan ( Uruguay ) , Andres Iniesta ( Spain ) , Lionel Messi ( Argentina ) , Thomas Muller ( Germany ) , Nani ( Portugal ) , Neymar ( Brazil ) , Mesut Ozil ( Germany ) , Gerard Pique ( Spain ) , Cristiano Ronaldo ( Portugal ) , Wayne Rooney ( England ) , Bastian Schweinsteiger ( Germany ) , Wesley Sneijder ( Netherlands ) , Luis Suarez ( Uruguay ) David Villa ( Spain ) , Xavi ( Spain ) .
FIFA 's ruling body unveils the nominees for the 2011 FIFA Ballon Award award . Barcelona 's Lionel Messi won the trophy in 2010 and is nominated again this year . The award will be handed out at a FIFA Ballon Awards gala on January 9 .