Oct. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Argentina forward Lionel Messi was among seven Barcelona players shortlisted for soccer's World Player of the Year award, the most from any club.

Messi, Samuel Eto'o, Thierry Henry, Rafael Marquez, Ronaldinho, Deco and Lilian Thuram were all included on governing body FIFA's 30-man list, even though the club surrendered its league title to Real Madrid.

Four English players were named -- Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and John Terry -- while Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was the only Spaniard.

Fabio Cannavaro won the award last year after captaining Italy to the World Cup. The winner will be revealed on Dec. 17.

WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST: Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Cannavaro (Real Madrid, Italy), Cech (Chelsea, Czech Rep.), Ronaldo (Man. Utd., Portugal), Deco (Barcelona, Portugal), Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Essien (Chelsea, Ghana), Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon), Gattuso (AC Milan, Italy), Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Henry (Barcelona, France), Juninho (Lyon, Brazil), Kaka (AC Milan, Brazil), Klose (Bayern Munich, Germany), Lahm (Bayern Munich, Germany), Lampard (Chelsea, England), Marquez (Barcelona, Mexico), Messi (Barcelona, Argentina), Nesta (AC Milan, Italy), Pirlo (AC Milan, Italy), Ribery (Bayern Munich, France), Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Rooney (Man. Utd., England), Terry (Chelsea, England), Tevez (Man. Utd., Argentina), Thuram (Barcelona, France), Torres (Liverpool, Spain), Van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid, Holland), Vieira (Inter Milan, France).

To contact the reporter on this story: Sam Sheringham in London on at ssheringham@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 10, 2007 07:41 EDT