Samuel Eto'o was voted forward of the year at the FIFPro awards

Four African players have made it to the shortlist for Fifa's World Player of the Year award.

The African contingent is headed by reigning African Footballer of the Year, Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon. Eto'o plays for Spanish champions Barcelona.

Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha of English Premiership side Bolton and Chelsea's Ghana international Michael Essien have also been nominated.

Essien's Chelsea team-mate Didier Drogba of the Ivory Coast completes the African quartet.

The shortlist of 30 is, as always, dominated by strikers and attacking midfielders with just one goalkeeper.

Other players in the running for the award are France forward Thierry Henry, Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy and England captain, David Beckham.

Also in contention for the women's top player award is reigning African Women's footballer of the year, Perpetua Nkwocha of Nigeria as well as Portia Modise of South Africa.

The shortlist will now be sent to the coaches and captains of every national team who will be asked to choose their top three players.