Fantastic 40 in running for Gillette crown
At every single FIFA World Cup? there is a young player who captures the imagination of the watching world. At Sweden 1958 it was Pele, at Mexico 1970 it was Teofilo Cubillas and in 1998 it was Michael Owen. Now in the 18th edition of football's showpiece event there is a host of youngsters hoping to make a similar impact.
The Gillette Best Young Player award has been created to recognise the contribution made by young footballers in their first FIFA World Cup and it will be presented to the individual who shines the brightest in Germany.
For the very first time in a FIFA competition, football fans from all over the world will be able to have their say on who should be presented with the award. The 40 players born on or after the 1 January 1985 have been entered into a special section on FIFAworldcup.com in preparation for the start of the voting process.
When the tournament begins on Friday 9 June, Germany's Marcell Jansen and Lukas Podolski will be the first young players under the spotlight. That is the point when people can register their selections. Voting continues until Wednesday 5 July, when the votes will be collected.
The fans' top three choices will then be added to three more chosen by FIFA's Technical Study Group (TSG) to create a shortlist of six. The eventual winner will be chosen by the TSG.
The contenders: Mario (ANG), Lionel Messi (ARG), Oscar Ustari (ARG), Mark Milligan (AUS), Luka Modric (CRO), Christian Benitez (ECU), Luis Valencia (ECU), Aaron Lennon (ENG), Wayne Rooney (ENG), Theo Walcott (ENG), Marcell Jansen (GER), Lukas Podolski (GER), Haminu Dramani (GHA), Asamoah Gyan (GHA), Hossein Kaabi (IRN), Ji Hoon Baek (KOR), Jin Kyu Kim (KOR), Chu Young Park (KOR), Andres Guardado (MEX), Guillermo Ochoa (MEX), Ryan Babel (NED), Hedwidges Maduro (NED), Jose Montiel (PAR), Lukasz Fabianski (POL), Cristiano Ronaldo (POR), Mohammed Al Anbar (KSA), Cesc Fabregas (ESP), Sergio Ramos (ESP), Tranquillo Barnetta (SUI), Valon Behrami (SUI), Johan Djourou (SUI), Blerim Dzemaili (SUI), Philippe Senderos (SUI), Johan Vonlanthen (SUI), Toure Assimiou (TOG), Karim Guede (TOG), Yassine Chikhaoui (TUN), Dmytro Chiggrynskiy (UKR), Artem Milevskiy (UKR), Bogdan Shust (UKR)
