The shortlist for FIFA's Ballon d'Or award for the best player in the world was issued yesterday.
La Liga stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo made the shortlist, of course, as did three Premier League players - Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas , Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Sunderland forward Asamoah Gyan.
There are six players from FC Barcelona on the list, five from Bayern Munchen, four for Real Madrid , one from Atletico Madrid and four from Inter Milan .
Two goalkeepers, Real Madrid 's king between the posts Iker Casillas and Inter Milan 's Treble winning stopper Julio Cesar , were also nominated, as was Spain and Barcelona's colossus at the back, Carles Puyol .
Three full-backs were on the list, but the feeling is that Daniel Alves, Philipp Lahm and Maicon are there as much for their attacking qualities as their defensive virtues.
So who will be declared the winner of the prestigious award come January 10?
A defensive player could win the award, following in the footsteps of Fabio Cannavaro, and goalkeeper Casillas is a really good bet.
But in the first part of two reports, we at IMScouting have compiled an efficiency table illustrating the attacking qualities of the nominees.
And according to the report, which is based on the number of goals and assists per minutes in all competitions in 2010, a familiar face tops the list.
Here are the top six, with the entire list (minus the goalkeepers) at the bottom.
6) Diego Forlan
Club
Efficiency rating: Goal or assist every 113.4 minutes
Twenty-seven goals and six assists since January have capped a sensational year for the Uruguayan – surely the most memorable in his career.
After steering Atletico Madrid to a UEFA Cup triumph against Fulham, Forlan still had it in him to take unfancied Uruguay to the World Cup semi-final and be named man-of-the-tournament in the process.
Forlan is a complete forward. He's intelligent, can shoot with either foot and is good in air.
Forlan is very clever in his movement without the ball and has a good eye for the killer pass.
He is an extremely versatile attacker - for his club he plays as a classic target man, while for his national team he is the undisputed leader and playmaker.
5) Cesc Fabregas
Club
Efficiency rating: Goal or assist every 99.05 minutes
The midfield maestro just keeps getting better. 12 goals and eight assists since the turn of the year helped Arsenal to their standard Champions League berth, and he helped Spain to their historic World Cup triumph by setting up Andres Iniesta's goal in a dramatic end to the final.
He was sorely missed by Arsenal on more than one occasion with injury, and showed his power of recovery to come back to form relatively quickly after being sidelined.
Fabregas is capable of dominating a game from midfield. He can slice open defences with his vision and passing and has the ability to dictate the pace and tempo of a contest. He has a superb, accurate shot from distance and has developed into a clinical finisher.
4) Arjen Robben
Club
Efficiency rating: Goal or assist every 97.17 minutes
The man whose volley knocked Manchester United out of the Champions league had an outstanding year with 20 goals and three assists. He came back from injury to score two in the World Cup and was the only Dutch player to cause Spain problems at the back in the final - being a Casillas save away from snatching a win for the Oranje.
Robben is a terrific dribbler and a lightening quick attacking player. When on song he is one of the best wingers in the world and one of the most dangerous players around.
He is renowned for cutting in from the right with devastating effect.
3) Didier Drogba
Club: Chelsea
Age: 32
Nationality: Ivorian
Estimated market value: €20M-30M
Efficiency rating: Goal or assist every 81.29 minutes
The most senior of the top six remains an absolute goal machine – as mechanical as the side he plays for.
His 25 goals and 10 assists since January were a huge contribution to Chelsea's Premier League title. He also helped his side to the African Nations Cup quarter final with a goal against Ghana and scored a consolation goal against Brazil in what ultimately proved to be a disappointing World Cup campaign.
Drogba is a strong target man who causes such grief for defenders, excellent both in the air and on the ground. He is one of the very best strikers in Europe, which ruthless finishing skills in the box and a superb shot from distance.
He is great at running onto passes and equally excellent with his back to goal, holding the ball up and bringing others into play.
2) Cristiano Ronaldo
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 25
Nationality: Portuguese
Estimated market value: €30M+
Efficiency rating: Goal or assist every 79.65 minutes
If Ronaldo carries on like he is at the moment, it will be hard to award the Ballon d'Or to anyone else. He has scored 11 goals in 11 games this term for Real, and has a tally of 22 goals and 10 assists in 2010.
And amazingly he was actually being criticised by sections of the Bernabeu at the start of this season.
He scored for Portugal in the 7-0 rout of North Korea at the World Cup, but didn't have the best of tournaments and bowed out with a frustrated spit in the proximity of a cameraman.
But all that is being forgotten with his current blistering form from the left of a three pronged forward line for Jose Mourinho's men.
Ronaldo is superb with the ball at the feet, bamboozling opponents with his spectacular skills, creating and scoring goals almost at will at present.
He has exceptional pace and dribbling ability, is great in the air and his deadly, swerving free-kick is one of his trademarks.
1) Lionel Messi
Club: FC Barcelona
Age: 23
Nationality: Argentinean
Estimated market value: €30M+
Efficiency rating: Goal or assist every 78.41 minutes
Messi quickly dispelled any fears of a disappointing World Cup affecting his form this term with a goal just three minutes into the new league season.
A staggering 41 goals and eight assists this year were key in Barcelona securing their second domestic championship in a row, and has recovered well from injury to help his side keep within one point of Real Madrid .
There aren’t many superlatives that haven't been used to describe the modern-day Maradona. He is a true superstar and one of the most exciting players the world has ever seen.
The man treated by Barcelona for a growth hormone deficiency when he was younger has incredible speed, balance and control, with the ball appearing to stick to his feet.
And the frightening thing is that Messi is still only 23.
Inter Milan are dreaming of signing the Argentine in 2013, but if Barcelona are foolish, or broke, enough to sell him, it will surely smash the transfer record to smitherines.
Nationality: Dutch
Estimated market value: €30M+: Arsenal FCAge: 23
Nationality: Spanish
Estimated market value: €30M+
Nationality: Uruguayan
Estimated market value: €20M-30M
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