Cote d’Ivoire’s Yaya Toure who plays for Manchester City, and four other Barclays Premier League stars, have been named on FIFA's 23-man shortlist for the 2014 Ballon d'Or.
Toure, who helped Manchester City to their second leage title last season, is the only African on the shortlist which will be further pruned before the final winner is announced early next year.
Toure, very instrumental in City’s Premiership win last season, but yet to hit that same form this season, was also nominated in last year’s shortlist but failed to make the final cut.
Current holder Cristiano Ronaldo and four-time winner Lionel Messi are again the favourites, but there is no place on the shortlist for former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, who was banned for four months last July, for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.
Six members of Germany's World Cup-winning squad have also been nominated, making them the most represented country on the list.
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