CHICAGO, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- France's Zinedine Zidane, involved in the controversial head-butt in the 2006 World Cup title game, has been nominated to be soccer's player of the year.
Zidane was voted the 2006 World Cup Golden Ball, as the tournament's outstanding player, despite his head-butt of Italy's Marco Materazzi. That led to Zidane's ejection from the game and Italy went on to win the World Cup in a shootout.
Still, Zidane was among the 30 men and 20 women selected as finalists to be soccer's players of the year. The men's and women's players of the year will be announced Dec. 18 at the FIFA World Player Gala in Switzerland.
In addition to Zidane, the list of men eligible for player of the year includes Brazil's Ronaldinho, Kaka and Adriano.
Among those considered favorites for the women's honor are Germany's Renate Lingor and Silke Rottenberg, who helped their national team to the 2003 Women's World Cup title.
A total of 20 women and 30 men have been selected by various FIFA committees. The head coaches and captains of the men's and women's national teams have the opportunity to vote for the player of the year.
