Fabio Cannavaro, Ronaldinho and Zinedine Zidane have been chosen as the three finalists for FIFA's World Player of the Year award. (Photo source: Xinhua)

Fabio Cannavaro, Ronaldinho and Zinedine Zidane have been chosen as the three finalists for FIFA's World Player of the Year award.

It will be a chance for Italian captain Cannavaro to add to the Ballon d'Or, European Footballer of the Year award, which he has already won for his great defensive display at the World Cup.

Ronaldinho won the FIFA award last year and was a major influence in Barcelona's drive to win the European Champions League Cup. However, he failed to hit his best form as Brazil went out in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

Zidane inspired France to the World Cup final but blotted his copybook in the showdown against Cannavaro's Italy when he was sent off for his infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi in extra-time. He has since retired from soccer.

The women's shortlist for Player of the Year consists of Marta of Brazil, Kristine Lilly of the United States and Renate Lingor of Germany.

Coaches and captains of national teams voted for nominees. The prize will be awarded at the FIFA end of year gala in Zurich, Switzerland, on Dec. 18.

The gala will also award prizes to the three top players during the World Cup (Zidane, Cannavaro and Andreo Pirlo), the competition's three top scorers (Miroslav Klose, Hernan Crespo and Ronaldo) and the top goalkeeper (Gianluigi Buffon).