Han Duan

Ma Xiaoxu

Chinese female footballers Ma Xiaoxu and Han Duan were among the 20 candidates for the World Player of the Year award, according to a statement by FIFA.

Ma, winner of the Golden Shoe and Golden Ball awards at the recent FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship in Russia, impressed the football specialists with five goals and two assists in the tournament.

Han, Ma's national and Dalian soccer club mate, also proved in a super league in attacking line with her performance in national side.

The 20 candidates, which were nominated by the committee for Women's Football and the FIFA Women's World Cup on Thursday, come from 15 different countries, with surprising exclusion of two stars in women's football, Germany's Birgit Prinz and the Swede Hanna Ljungberg.

The top three out of the 20 will be revealed in late November or early December when the national coaches and team captains cast their votes. The winner will be announced at the 16th FIFA World Player Gala at Zurich, Switzerland on December 18.

Editor: Donald