Barcelona striker Luis Suarez was first in the Associated Press Global Football 10 player vote on Tuesday, and his team was also at the top of the list.
Manchester City says captain Vincent Kompany could miss the rest of the season because of a groin injury, dealing another blow to the English champions' season.
Sunderland has hired former Netherlands manager Dick Advocaat as coach until the end of the season, tasked with keeping the northeast club in the Premier League.
Steven Gerrard will undergo surgery on his left shoulder this week, ruling him out of Liverpool's final two games of the Premier League and England's upcoming exhibitions against Ireland and Brazil.
Premier League soccer club West Ham has been selected "preferred partner" in its bid to move into the London Olympic Stadium and will enter into exclusive negotiations over the terms of a 99-year lease.