Gareth Bale is the only Brit in the running for this year's Ballon d'Or - but three Manchester City players are among five Premier League stars also in contention.
Bale has played a vital role in helping Wales qualify for a major finals tournament for the first time since 1958, scoring seven goals in their successful European Qualifiers campaign.
He has attracted some criticism from some Real Madrid fans in recent months and has only scored twice for them this season, with both goals coming in a 5-0 win against Real Betis in August.
Bale has still played an important role for the Spanish giants, however, and struck 17 times for them last term.
The attacker is joined on the 23-man shortlist by five Premier League stars, with Sergio Aguero one of three who hail from the Etihad Stadium.
He was the competition's top scorer last season with 26 goals and has eight more this term including five against Newcastle at the start of the month.
Aguero is included among the candidates along with his team-mate Yaya Toure, a scorer 13 times for his club and country Ivory Coast in 2014/15.
New signing Kevin De Bruyne - who has made a stunning start to his time at City - is also on the shortlist, largely for the work he did at previous club Wolfsburg.
Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez is on the list and he has arguably been the star turn in the division so far this season.
Chelsea forward Eden Hazard, last term's PFA Player of the Year, is the final player of the English-based quintet.
There are few other surprises among the other contenders, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Neymar, Robert Lewandowski and Luis Suarez all named.
Karim Benzema, Andres Iniesta, Toni Kroos, Javier Mascherano, Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, Ivan Rakitic, Arjen Robben, James Rodriguez and Arturo Vidal complete the selection.
Spain's La Liga - with 11 - leads the way in terms of nominations by league, while Germany's Bundesliga has six nominees. There are two from Italy's Serie A and one - Ibrahimovic - from France's Ligue 1.
Players who have transferred during the past year are recognised for their contribution to both clubs.
Jose Mourinho has had a difficult start to Chelsea's title defence but he is a nominee for the manager's award after their emphatic Premier League win last season.
Arsenal's Arsene Wenger is also included on the 10-man shortlist with the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, Laurent Blanc, Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique and Diego Simeone.
Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli, Massimiliano Allegri and Unai Emery are the final three names shortlisted and the winners will be announced in Zurich on January 11.
Voting will run from next Monday until November 20, with the captain and manager of each international football team having a vote.
International media representatives selected by France Football will also be involved in the process, with a final three-man shortlist to be announced on November 30.
FIFA Ballon d'Or shortlist:
Sergio Aguero (Argentina/Manchester City), Gareth Bale (Wales/Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/Paris Saint-Germain), Andres Iniesta (Spain/Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich), Javier Mascherano (Argentina/Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Germany/Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Germany/Bayern Munich), Neymar (Brazil/Barcelona), Paul Pogba (France/Juventus), Ivan Rakitic (Croatia/Barcelona), Arjen Robben (Netherlands/Bayern Munich), James Rodriguez (Colombia/Real Madrid), Alexis Sanchez (Chile/Arsenal), Luis Suarez (Uruguay/Barcelona), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast/Manchester City), Arturo Vidal (Chile/Bayern Munich).
FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men's Football shortlist:
Massimiliano Allegri (Juventus), Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid), Laurent Blanc (Paris Saint-Germain), Unai Emery (Sevilla), Pep Guardiola (FC Bayern Munich), Luis Enrique (Barcelona), Jose Mourinho (Chelsea), Jorge Sampaoli (Chile), Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal).
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