Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure has been nominated on the 23 man shortlist for football’s biggest award, the FIFA Ballon d’Or. The award is widely regarded as recognition for the best player in football in the year under consideration. Toure, currently the best player in Africa, has enjoyed a productive year with stellar performances for Manchester City as the English club won the Premier League title and the Capital One Cup. Toure also made three appearances at the World Cup but largely failed to impress as the Ivorian national team failed to make it past the group stages of the tournament.
While, Toure’s chances of winning the ward are minimal, it is no doubt pleasing for African football enthusiasts that Toure has been mentioned alongside some of the greatest players of the current generation such as Lionel Messi and this year’s favourite, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Africa’s history with this award is quite rich as legendary Liberian striker George Weah famously won the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 1995, alongside the European and African versions of the award after a remarkable season with AC Milan. Ten years later, Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o finished third behind Brazil legend Ronaldinho and England’s Frank Lampard.
Here’s a full list of the 23 man nomination shortlist.
Karim Benzema, France, Real Madrid
Diego Costa, Spain, Chelsea
Thibaut Courtois, Belgium, Chelsea
Angel Di Maria, Argentina, Manchester United
Gareth Bale, Wales, Real Madrid
Eden Hazard, Belgium, Chelsea
Paul Pogba, France, Juventus
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden, Paris Saint-Germain
Andres Iniesta, Spain, Barcelona
Philipp Lahm, Germany, Bayern Munich
Javier Mascherano, Argentina, Barcelona
Lionel Messi, Argentina, Barcelona
James Rodriguez, Colombia, Real Madrid
Manuel Neuer, Germany, Bayern Munich
Neymar, Brazil, Barcelona
Mario Gotze, Germany, Bayern Munich
Sergio Ramos, Spain, Real Madrid
Arjen Robben, Netherlands, Bayern Munich
Toni Kroos, Germany, Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Real Madrid
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Germany, Bayern Munich
Yaya Toure, Ivory Coast, Manchester City
Thomas Muller, Germany, Bayern Munich
The 23 man shortlist will be cut to three and announced on December 1 while a FIFA gala in Zurich, on January 12, 2015 will announce the 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner.