FIFA BALLON D’OR: AN AFRICAN AMONG THE 23 NOMINEES

FIFA and France Football magazine have revealed the list of 23 nominees for the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or, and all the contenders play in Europe. The favorites for the prestigious award include Lionel Messi, who has won the trophy four times, Cristiano Ronaldo, the 2008 winner, and Franck Ribéry, the best UEFA player in 2013. The only African player among the nominees is Ivory Coast’s Yaya Touré.

The winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2013 will be announced on January 13, 2014.

Here is the complete list of the 23 nominees:

1. Gareth Bale (WAL, Real Madrid)
2. Edinson Cavani (URU, Paris-SG)
3. Radamel Falcao (COL, Monaco)
4. Eden Hazard (BEL, Chelsea)
5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SWE, Paris-SG)
6. Andrés Iniesta (ESP, FC Barcelona)
7. Philipp Lahm (GER, Bayern Munich)
8. Robert Lewandowski (POL, Borussia Dortmund)
9. Lionel Messi (ARG, FC Barcelona)
10. Thomas Müller (GER, Bayern Munich)
11. Neymar (BRA, FC Barcelona)
12. Manuel Neuer (GER, Bayern Munich)
13. Mesut Özil (GER, Arsenal)
14. Andrea Pirlo (ITA, Juventus Turin)
15. Franck Ribery (FRA, Bayern Munich)
16. Arjen Robben (NED, Bayern Munich)
17. Cristiano Ronaldo (POR, Real Madrid)
18. Bastian Schweinsteiger (GER, Bayern Munich)
19. Luis Suarez (URU, Liverpool)
20. Thiago Silva (BRA, Paris-SG)
21. Yaya Touré (CIV, Manchester City)
22. Robin van Persie (NED, Manchester United)
23. Xavi (ESP, FC Barcelona).