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.

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