Soccer: Ronaldinho, Shevchenko and Henry up for player of year

ZURICH - Barcelona's Ronaldinho, Andriy Shevchenko of AC Milan and Thierry Henry of Arsenal make up the three-man shortlist for the 2004 world player of the year award.

The winner would be announced on December 20, Fifa, the sport's world governing body, said tolday.

None of the three have won the award before.

Brazil's Ronaldinho, a World Cup winner in 2002, has transformed Barcelona since arriving at the Nou Camp at the beginning of last season from Paris St Germain.

Seven points clear at the top of the Primera Liga, Barcelona are playing the most exciting club soccer in Europe and Ronaldinho's skill and vision is at the heart of it.

Ronaldinho did not play in this year's Copa America, which Brazil won.

The consistent goalscoring of Ukraine's Shevchenko helped Milan to last season's Italian title and his goal ratio during five seasons in Italy has been outstanding. Ukraine missed out on Euro 2004.

Henry finished second behind fellow Frenchman Zinedine Zidane in voting for the 2003 award. He finished top scorer in the English premier league with 30 goals, helping Arsenal to the title last season.

However, Henry failed to spark at Euro 2004 as France went out in the quarterfinals.

The three candidates for women's player of the year are Mia Hamm of the United States, Birgit Prinz of Germany and Marta of Brazil.

- REUTERS