Yaya Touré of Manchester City stands as the sole African nominee among the midfielders contending for a spot in the 2012 team of the year. The Ivorian footballer is in esteemed company, competing with a list of equally talented players. The roster of 15 is predominantly Spanish, with six players, including Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez and Andrés Iniesta. Other notable players on the list are Frank Ribéry (France), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Eden Hazard (Belgium), and several others.
The final team of the year will feature only three players selected from this list. The names of the chosen players will be revealed during the FIFA Ballon d’Or award ceremony on January 7, 2013.
