Michael Essien (telegraph)

Football News – Chelsea and Ghana midfielder Michael Essien has been listed by FIFA as one of 23 players in contention for the 2009 World Player of the Year award.

The 26-year-old is chasing the highest individual award in world football but he must beat the likes of Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, who are much fancied for the title.

The Chelsea ace was voted the 2005 French Player of the Year and since then he has been voted runner-up in the African Footballer of the Year accolade.

Essien is short listed, alongside fellow Africans Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o, who moved to Inter Milan this summer. Liberian George Weah is the only African who has won the gong, he was handed the crown in 1995 after beating Paolo Maldini and Jurgen Klinsmann.

The winner of the award will be announced on December 21 in Zurich.