time winner Lionel Messi has been selected among the 23 candidates for the FIFA world player of the year award. FIFA released the candidates early Tuesday for the Ballon d'Or 2011 award. Spanish players dominate the list, with seven nominations including Iker Casillas, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, David Villa, Xabi Alonso and Xavi. Wayne Rooney is the sole Englishman in the list. Rooney helped Manchester United win the Premier League title for a record 19th time, and scored in its Champions League final defeat to Barcelona. Spain coach Vicente del Bosque was among the 10 candidates nominated for the world coach of the year award. Long-serving Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Barcelona's Pep Guardiola and Madrid coach Jose Mourinho are also on the list. The leading three candidates from each list will be announced Dec. 5 in Paris, with the winners announced at a televised ceremony in Zurich on Jan. 9. Apart from Rooney, only three English-based players are named, with Liverpool's Luis Suarez and Manchester United's Nani joined by Sergio Aguero, who left Atletico Madrid for Manchester City in the summer. Brazilian teenage sensation Neymar — of Santos — is the first player based outside of Europe to be shortlisted since Boca Juniors' Juan Roman Riquelme in 2007. Charlton helping Rooney Manchester United great Bobby Charlton has been advising Wayne Rooney on how to curb his fiery temper on the pitch. The burley striker will miss the entire group stage of the 2012 European Championship after receiving a three-game ban for kicking a player during England's last qualifier against Montenegro. Asked if he speaks to Rooney about his temperament, Charlton said: “I do sometimes.” “He is very receptive to good advice. He's the sort of lad who likes to be told if he's made a mistake,” Charlton said at the Laureus Sport for Good summit in London on Monday. “He knows he's made a mistake,” against Montenegro. The 74-year-old Charlton still retains the goal scoring records for England and United that Rooney will be hoping to overhaul.
