The former captain of France's national team made the shortlist despite ending his career being ejected from the World Cup final against Italy for head butting Marco Materazzi in the chest.

Italians Fabio Cannavaro and Andrea Pirlo, who were named the World Cup's best players along with Zidane, were also nominated for the award. They will have to beat Brazil's Ronaldinho, the winner for the last two years.

On Thursday, FIFA released its shortlists of 20 women and 30 men in contention for the two annual awards honouring the best players in the sport.

Coaches and captains of men's and women's national teams around the world will be eligible to vote, and soccer's world governing body will announce the three male and three female players with the most votes in early December.

The winners then will be chosen from those finalists and presented with the awards at the Zurich Opera House on Dec. 18.

Last year, FC Barcelona striker Ronaldinho beat out England's Frank Lampard and Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o. In the women's voting, Birgit Prinz of Germany edged Marta of Brazil and American Shannon Boxx.

The men's shortlist includes Thierry Henry, twice second in the voting and now within three goals of Michel Platini's French national team record of 41 goals.

Germany captain Michael Ballack, World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and England's Wayne Rooney also made the shortlist.