ZURICH, Switzerland - Italian World Cup-winning skipper Fabio Cannavaro, Brazilian maestro Ronaldinho and French idol Zinedine Zidane have been shortlisted for the prestigious FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Italy's soccer player Fabio Cannavaro of Real Madrid kisses his Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) award as European Footballer of the Year during a news conference in Paris November 27, 2006. [Reuters] Ronaldinho Zidane

The winner will be announced at a gala ceremony here on December 18.

FIFA initially drew up a preliminary shortlist of 30 players which was whittled down to the final trio.

Ronaldinho won the award last year and was a major influence in Barcelona's drive to win the European Champions League Cup. He failed to hit top form for Brazil during the World Cup in Germany, However.

Cannavaro has already won the Ballon d'Or, European Footballer of the year award for his great defensive display for Italy at the World Cup.

Zidane returned from international retirement to inspire France into the World Cup final during which he was sent off for head-butting Italian defender Marco Materazzi shortly before the end of regulation time.

The women's shortlist for Player of the Year consists of Brazilian phenomenon Marta, indestructible American Kristine Lilly and German playmaker Renate Lingor.

The FIFA end of year 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).