FIFA and France Football magazine have provided a list of 23 nominees for the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2013. The 23 contenders for the title all evolve in Europe.

Besides the favorites are the four-time winner of the award Lionel Messi, the winner of the 2008 edition Cristiano Ronaldo, the best UEFA-2013 player Franck Ribery, and the Ivorian Yaya Toure being the only African in this group of 23.

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

Complete list of the 23 nominees

Gareth Bale (Wales, Real Madrid)

Edinson Cavani (URU, Paris -SG)

Radamel Falcao (COL, Monaco)

Eden Hazard (BEL, Chelsea)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SWE, Paris -SG)

Andrés Iniesta (ESP, FC Barcelona)

Philipp Lahm ( ALL, Bayern Munich )

Robert Lewandowski (POL Borussia Dortmund)

Lionel Messi (ARG, FC Barcelona)

Thomas Müller (GER, Bayern Munich)

Neymar (BRA, FC Barcelona)

Manuel Neuer (GER, Bayern Munich)

Mesut Özil (ALL, Arsenal)

Andrea Pirlo (ITA, Juventus )

Franck Ribery (FRA, Bayern Munich)

Arjen Robben (NED, Bayern Munich)

Cristiano Ronaldo (POR, Real Madrid)

Bastian Schweinsteiger (GER, Bayern Munich)

Luis Suarez (URU, Liverpool)

Thiago Silva (BRA, Paris -SG)

Yaya Toure (CIV, Manchester City)

Robin van Persie (NED, Manchester United)

Xavi (SPAIN, FC Barcelona).