The quartet are among 23 players in the running to win the prize, with the winner revealed on 21 December. Barcelona's Lionel Messi is the strong favourite ahead of last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo, now at Real Madrid. There are also 10 nominees for the Fifa Women's World Player, including England striker Kelly Smith.
Six Spaniards have been shortlisted for the men's award and six from Champions League winners Barcelona, including midfield duo Xavi and Andres Iniesta as well as Messi.
Liverpool's Fernando Torres is in the running, as are Chelsea trio Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien. The prizes are voted for by the captains and head coaches of the men's and women's national teams and at the beginning of December Fifa will announce the names of the five men and five women who have received the most votes.
The winners will then be revealed at the 19th Fifa World Player Gala at the Zurich Kongresshaus on Monday 21 December.
Nominees for 2009 Fifa World Player of the Year award:
Michael Ballack (Germany), Chelsea
Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Juventus
Iker Casillas (Spain), Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Real Madrid
Diego (Brazil), Juventus
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Chelsea
Michael Essien (Ghana), Chelsea
Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Inter Milan
Steven Gerrard (England), Liverpool
Thierry Henry (France), Barcelona
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Barcelona
Andres Iniesta (Spain), Barcelona
Kaka (Brazil), Real Madrid
Frank Lampard (England), Chelsea
Luis Fabiano (Brazil), Sevilla
Lionel Messi (Argentina), Barcelona
Carles Puyol (Spain), Barcelona
Franck Ribery (France), Bayern Munich
Wayne Rooney (England), Manchester United
John Terry (England), Chelsea
Fernando Torres (Spain), Liverpool
David Villa (Spain), Valencia
Xavi (Spain), Barcelona
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Nominees for 2009 Fifa Women's World Player of the Year:
Nadine Angerer (Germany)
Sonia Bompastor (France)
Cristiane (Brazil)
Inka Grings (Germany)
Mana Iwabuchi (Japan)
Simone Laudehr (Germany)
Marta (Brazil)
Birgit Prinz (Germany)
Kelly Smith (England)
Abby Wambach (USA)
