The list:

Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal, Togo), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, Argentina), Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg, Russia), Michael Ballack (Chelsea, Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid, Spain), Deco (Chelsea, Portugal), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, Ivory Coast), Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona, Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal, Spain), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan, Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, Spain), Kaka (AC Milan, Brazil), Frank Lampard (Chelsea, England), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich, France), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Portugal), John Terry (Chelsea, England), Fernando Torres (Liverpool, Spain), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid, Holland), David Villa (Valencia, Spain) and Xavi (Barcelona, Spain).

Vastly similar to the Balon list, but a little more refined and predictable.

Most would have to say it comes down to only a few when you look at form over the last year, or so: Ronaldo, Messi, Torres, Fabregas, Aguero, Gerrard, Xavi, Villa, Lampard and Casillas. To me, the rest have some injury or inconsistency to keep them out of serious contention, but you might not agree!

Spain dominates the list, but interestingly enough Chelsea rules the roost as far as clubs go, but the Blues boast no Spanish players. Interesting....