Shortlists of 23 men and 10 women were announced on 29 October 2008,[4] before being reduced to five men and five women by 12 December 2008.[5] The male nominees were Kaká, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres and Xavi, and the female nominees were Nadine Angerer, Cristiane, Marta, Birgit Prinz and Kelly Smith.