Yaya Toure flies the flag for Africa in Ballon D’Or Nominees

Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure has made the list of one of the highest awards in football, the Ballon d’Or. The Manchester City play-maker had bitten Nigeria man John Obi Mikel to win the CAF best player award earlier this year and his form has pushed him into world recognition also as he flies the flag alone for Africa.

The shortlist comprise of undoubtedly Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Reigning World champions Germany understandably had six players in total on the list.

Starlets who made the list are Paul Pogba, Mario Gotze, Neymar, and Thibaut Courtios.

Luis Suarez despite scoring 31goals for Liverpool last season before his biting incident with Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini did not make the shortlist.

The list would be reduced to three following votes from captains, coaches, media and so on and the grand finale would be at Zurich on the 12^th of January

See the full list below;

Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Diego Costa(Chelsea), Thibaut Courtois(Chelsea), Cristiano Ronaldo(Real Madrid), Angel Di Maria(Manchester United), Mario Gotze(Real Madrid), Eden Hazard(Chelsea), Zlatan Ibrahimovic(Paris Saint Germain), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Neymar (Barcelona), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), James Rodriguez (Real Madrid), Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Yaya Toure (Manchester City)