LIONEL MESSI is in the running for a fourth consecutive FIFA world player of the year award.

    Twenty-three candidates were announced Monday, and Messi was joined by Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Xavi Hernandez on the Ballon d’Or shortlist.

    Seven players for Spain are in contention after the national team retained its European Championship title in July. Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is again the only England player on the list.

    Italian players are in the mix for the first time in three years — Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli and Juventus players Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon.

    The leading three candidates will be announced Nov. 29 in Brazil. The winner will be announced Jan. 7 in Zurich.

    Messi was presented with his second Golden Boot award Monday in recognition for scoring the most goals in Europe’s domestic leagues last season.

    The 25-year-old Messi scored a Spanish-league record 50 goals for Barcelona, edging out fellow Spanish league star Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid by four goals.

    Messi dedicated the award to his teammates, with Xavi and Carles Puyol present for the ceremony in Barcelona.

    “It is a prize for scoring goals, but without my teammates I couldn’t have scored them,’’ Messi said.

    Messi is among the favorites to win the 2012 Ballon d’Or for the world’s best player.

    Messi, nicknamed “The Flea’’ for his uncanny ability to dribble through defenders, has shattered a number of records over the past year.

    He scored an unprecedented 73 goals in all competitions for Barcelona last season, breaking the previous European club record of 67 goals set by Bayern Munich’s Gerd Mueller in 1972-73 and the prior world club mark of 70 established by Archie Stark of Bethlehem Steel in the American Soccer League in 1924-25.

    In March, Messi passed Cesar Rodriguez’s 57-year-old milestone of 232 goals to become Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer. (SD-Agencies)