Bale selected on World Team of the Year shortlist

Tottenham winger Gareth Bale is one of 17 Premier League players included on the 55-man shortlist for the FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2010.

The 21-year old, who has been hyped to ridiculous levels thanks to his magnificent start to the season for Spurs, has made a list that is dominated by players from Barcelona and Real Madrid.

The 50,000 professional footballers belonging to the players' unions from across the world were asked to nominate their top four defenders, three midfielders, three forwards and a goalkeeper for 2010.

18 players from La Liga have been included on the shortlist, alongside 15 from Serie A, 13 from the Bundesliga and a solitary player, Lyon’s Michel Bastos from Ligue 1.

World champions Spain lead the voting with 10 selections, followed by Brazil with nine, eight from Argentina, six from England, four from Germany, three each from Holland and Italy, two from Portugal and one each from Uruguay, Wales, France, Bulgaria, Serbia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Ghana, the Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

The final World XI will be announced at the FIFA Ballon d'Or gala in Zurich on 10th January.

Shortlist for FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2010:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid), Petr Cech (Czech Republic, Chelsea), Julio Cesar (Brazil, Inter Milan), Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands, Manchester United)

Defenders: Daniel Alves (Brazil, Barcelona), Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur), Michel Bastos (Brazil, Lyon), Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea), Patrice Evra (France, Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (England, Manchester United), Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich), Lucio (Brazil, Inter Milan), Maicon (Brazil, Inter Milan), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid), Alessandro Nesta (Italy, AC Milan), Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Spain, Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Spain, Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid), Walter Samuel (Argentina, Inter Milan), John Terry (England, Chelsea), Thiago Silva (Brazil, AC Milan), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia, Manchester United), Javier Zanetti (Argentina, Inter Milan)

Midfielders: Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina, Inter Milan), Michael Essien (Ghana, Chelsea), Cesc Fabregas (Spain, Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool), Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona), Ricardo Kaka (Brazil, Real Madrid), Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea), Javier Mascherano (Argentina, Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Germany, Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Germany, Real Madrid), Andrea Pirlo (Italy, AC Milan), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, Bayern Munich), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands, Inter Milan), Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real Madrid), Xavi (Spain, Barcelona)

Forwards: Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria, Manchester United), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, Inter Milan), Diego Forlan (Uruguay, Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina, Real Madrid), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, AC Milan), Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), Diego Milito (Argentina, Inter Milan), Arjen Robben (Netherlands, Bayern Munich), Ronaldinho (Brazil, AC Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United), Carlos Tevez (Argentina, Manchester City), Fernando Torres (Spain, Liverpool), David Villa (Spain, Barcelona)