David Ginola and Les Ferdinand made it on the short list during our dramatic season when Man Utd pipped us for the title in 1996, but sadly ... no matter how hard we look ... we cannot find any Toon players on there this season.
Cristiano Ronaldo could retain his title and the Real Madrid and Portugal star heads a familiar cast of the world's leading talent, which also includes Barcelona's Lionel Messi as a strong candidate.
Spain provide six nominees - goalkeeper Iker Casillas, defender Carles Puyol, midfielders Andres Iniesta and Xavi and strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa.
England, with four are next, while Brazil (three) and France (two) are the only other countries with more than one player nominated.
FIFA World Player 2009 shortlist:
Michael Ballack (Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Diego (Brazil), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Ghana), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Steven Gerrard (England), Thierry Henry (France), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Kaka (Brazil), Frank Lampard (England), Luis Fabiano (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Carles Puyol (Spain), Franck Ribery (France), Wayne Rooney (England), John Terry (England), Fernando Torres (Spain), David Villa (Spain), Xavi (Spain).