This undeniably marks the year of Yaya Gnégnéri Touré. The Ivorian midfielder, recently honored as the “Footballer of the Year” by the BBC, continues to garner nominations for prestigious awards. UEFA (Union of European Football Federations) has disclosed the list of players in contention for the 2013 Team of the Year, and Touré stands out as the sole African representative.
The Manchester City player, considered a frontrunner for the title of Footballer of the Year at the Africa Top Sports Awards, is listed alongside other notable midfielders such as Gareth Bale, Ilkay Gundogan, Isco, Paul Pogba, Mesut Ozil, Nemanja Matic, Blaise Matuidi, Marco Reus, Franck Ribéry, Arjen Robben, and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Voting on the UEFA website is set to conclude on January 9, 2014. Touré’s acclaim extends to his inclusion among the 23 players nominated for the 2013 Ballon d’Or.
The list of nominated players includes notable figures in various positions:
- Goalkeepers: Courtois, Cech, de Gea, and Neuer.
- Defenders: Kompany, Alaba, Chiellini, Dante, Hummels, Ivanovic, Lahm, Lichtsteiner, Luis, Pique, Ramos, and Thiago Silva.
- Midfielders: Gareth Bale, Ilkay Gundogan, Isco, Paul Pogba, Mesut Ozil, Nemanja Matic, Blaise Matuidi, Marco Reus, Franck Ribéry, Arjen Robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Yaya Touré.
- Attackers: Sergio Aguero, Edinson Cavani, Diego Costa, Radamel Falcao, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robert Lewandowski, Mario Mandzukic, Jackson Martinez, Lionel Messi, Thomas Muller, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Robin Van Persie.
The question arises: Is Yaya Touré truly the best African player of 2013? The Africa Top Sports.com Awards provide an opportunity for enthusiasts to voice their opinions through voting. Additionally, the platform presents the chance to vote for the Best African Sportswoman and African Sportsman of 2013 in a comprehensive survey.
