The list of nominees for the prestigious European player of the year award was published Tuesday by France Football magazine.

There were 11 Frenchmen in the list including Henry and Zinedine Zidane, and seven members of Italy's World Cup-winning squad. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and captain Fabio Cannavaro were included, but defender Marco Materazzi _ the recipient of Zidane's head-butt in the World Cup final _ was not.

FC Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho won last year with 225 points, followed by Chelsea's Frank Lampard (148) and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (142). The winner is chosen by the magazine's annual poll of 52 journalists from around the world.

Gerrard and Lampard were among this year's candidates, but Ronaldinho said Arsenal's Henry and Barcelona teammates Eto'o and Deco will be his main challengers.

``It will be very tight,'' Ronaldinho told France Football. ``He (Eto'o) is a great player. The choice is really hard. Henry has played in two finals, one of them the World Cup final. I have won two titles. Deco, who is the best midfielder, has also won two.''

Despite failing to shine in the World Cup, Ronaldinho said he had a chance of becoming the first player since Marco van Basten in 1988-89 to retain the trophy.

``I think I have done my work,'' he said. ``I'm happy with what I have achieved and we will see if that is enough.''