Cesc Fabregas has been shortlisted as one of 23 players nominated for the FIFA Ballon D'Or, the now-sole player award given by FIFA, according to the Guardian. This nomination not only covers his general play for Arsenal over the past year, but also, as the award tends to focus heavily on the Champions League and the World Cup, his assist for the cup winner in South Africa this year and his play in Europe's top club competition.
Only two other Premier League players made the list, Asamoah Gyan of Sunderland and Didier Drogba of Chelsea. This no doubt signals the death of English football / the weakness of the Premier League and portends a plague of locusts and darkness over the British Isles in months to come.
In addition to the Player of the Year award, FIFA now has a Coach of the Year award, and Arsène Wenger has been nominated.