The other Premier League players on the list are forward Andrey Arshavin and midfielder Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal, with Liverpool striker Fernando Torres joining fellow nominee Gerrard.
Barcelona's Argentinian star Lionel Messi is one of the favourites to win the competition, organised by France Football magazine.
Full list of nominees:
Andrei Arshavin (Russia) Arsenal Karim Benzema (France) Olympique Lyon then Real Madrid Iker Casillas (Spain) Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) Manchester United then Real Madrid Diego (Brazil) Werder Bremen then Juventus Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) Chelsea Edin Dzeko (Bosnia) VfL Wolfsburg Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon) Barcelona then Inter Milan Cesc Fabregas (Spain) Arsenal Fernando Torres (Spain) Liverpool Diego Forlan (Uruguay) Atletico Madrid Steven Gerrard (England) Liverpool Ryan Giggs (Wales) Manchester United Yoann Gourcuff (France) Bordeaux Thierry Henry (France) Barcelona Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) Inter Milan then Barcelona Andres Iniesta (Spain) Barcelona Julio Cesar (Brazil) Inter Milan Kaka (Brazil) AC Milan then Real Madrid Frank Lampard (England) Chelsea Maicon (Brazil) Inter Milan Lionel Messi (Argentina) Barcelona Luis Fabiano (Brazil) Sevilla Franck Ribery (France) Bayern Munich Wayne Rooney (England) Manchester United John Terry (England) Chelsea Nemanja Vidic (Serbia) Manchester United David Villa (Spain) Valencia Xavi (Spain) Barcelona Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast) Barcelona
Bookmark with:
What are these?