Ronaldinho set for another top gong ?

Barcelona forward Ronaldinho, seen here with the Golden Ball 29 November 2005, is in line for another top accolade after football's world ruling body nominated the Brazilian among the contenders for the world player of the year

Barcelona forward Ronaldinho is in line for another top accolade after football's world ruling body nominated the Brazilian among the contenders for the world player of the year.

Voted the Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) - Europe's player of the year - in midweek, the 25-year-old silky smooth Ronaldinho is already FIFA's player of the year (2004).

However whether he can again hold of the likes of Chelsea's Frank Lampard and Barcelona teammate Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon remains to be seen.

According to a FIFA statement on Wednesday, the votes have already been counted, and all three above players are in contention for FIFA's prize, the 15th edition of which will be announced on here at the Zurich Opera house on December 19th.

Unlike the Ballon d'Or winner, who is nominated by 52 journalists - one each from UEFA's association countries - the FIFA award is chosen by the coaches and captains of national teams worldwide from a list made up by FIFA.

Women's football will also be honoured. Birgit Prinz, the winner last year, is again in contention.

FIFA's player of the year award has only been held for the past 14 years while the Ballon d'Or - considered by many on the continent as the bona fide footballer's prize - has run since 1956.

Ronaldinho joined the greats of world football on Monday when he won the prize with 225 points, 77 ahead of Lampard.