Zurich, 30 October (AKI) - The Italian goalkeeper of the Serie A team Juventus, Gianluigi Buffon has been selected as one of the 23 finalists by football's highest governing body, FIFA for the 2009 World Player of the Year award. Although Buffon (photo) is the only Italian featured on the list, two other footballers who play in Italy's Serie A were also selected; The Brazilian Diego, who plays for Juventus, and the Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o who plays for Inter Milan.

The 23-man shortlist - which includes stars such as the Brazilian Kaka, Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo and Swedish player Zlatan Ibrahimovic - was drawn up by FIFA's Football Committee and coaches as well as captains of national teams will vote to select the winner, which will be announced on 21 December in the Swiss city of Zurich.

The winner of the 2008 award was Cristiano Ronaldo.

FIFA will also select the female World Player of the Year award on 21 December and will feature 10 football stars hailing from Germany, France, Brazil, Japan, England and the United States.

Photo: Xinhua