FIFA reveals Ballon D'Or shortlist

Yaya Toure the only African on FIFA list.

World football governing body FIFA has announced the shortlist for the 2014 Ballon d’Or. The list is dominated by players from Germany, which won the last FIFA World Cup in July.23 players made the preliminary list, with Ballon d’Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo favourite to retain the title, Also shortlisted are four – time winner Lionel Messi, Welsh star Gareth Bale, World Cup golden boot winner James Rodriguez, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and Manchester City duo Sergio Agüero and the only African on the shortlist, Yaya Toure. 

BALLON D’OR SHORTLIST

Gareth Bale (Wales)
Karim Benzema (France)
Diego Costa (Spain)
Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Angel Di Maria (Argentina)
Mario Goetze (Germany)
Eden Hazard (Belgium)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)
Andres Iniesta (Spain)
Toni Kroos (Germany)
Philipp Lahm (Germany)
Javier Mascherano (Argentina)
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Thomas Mueller (Germany)
Manuel Neuer (Germany)
Neymar (Brazil)
Paul Pogba (France)
Sergio Ramos (Spain)
Arjen Robben (Netherlands)
James Rodriguez (Colombia)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
Yaya Toure (Côte d’Ivoire)
COACH OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST
Carlo Ancelotti (Italy/Real Madrid CF)
Antonio Conte (Italy/Juventus FC/Italy national team)
Pep Guardiola (Spain/FC Bayern Munich)
Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany/USA national team)
Joachim Loew (Germany/Germany national team)
Jose Mourinho (Portugal/Chelsea FC)
Manuel Pellegrini (Chile/Manchester City FC)
Alejandro Sabella (Argentina/Argentina national team)
Diego Simeone (Argentina/Atletico Madrid)
Louis van Gaal (Netherlands/Netherlands national team/Manchester United FC)
Voting will by the captains and head coaches of the men’s national teams as well as by international media representatives selected by France Football.

Source: Adekoya Adetola (@aloteda)