Ghana’s Christian Atsu, who started
just one league game in his loan spell at Everton last season, and is
yet to play for newly promoted Bournemouth, but excelled for the Black
Stars at the Africa Cup of Nations has been shortlisted for this year’s
Ballon d’or award.
Swansea City and Black Stars vice-captain Andre Ayew is also on the list thanks to his performances at that tournament.
While Arsenal's David Ospina, who catastrophically dropped a corner over his own goal-line on Tuesday against Olympiacos, is presumably included for his excellent displays in the Copa America.
While Cristiano Ronald and Lionel Messi will once again resume their personal battle to take home the award, the list also includes some names who barely play top-flight football.
Swansea City and Black Stars vice-captain Andre Ayew is also on the list thanks to his performances at that tournament.
While Arsenal's David Ospina, who catastrophically dropped a corner over his own goal-line on Tuesday against Olympiacos, is presumably included for his excellent displays in the Copa America.
While Cristiano Ronald and Lionel Messi will once again resume their personal battle to take home the award, the list also includes some names who barely play top-flight football.
Real Madrid and Barcelona lead the way on the 59-strong list, with Wales star Gareth Bale and former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez joining Messi and Ronaldo, who have shared the award between them every year since 2008.
Six members of the Juventus side that defied expectations to make the Champions League final are included in the list, while there are five players from Bayern Munich's Bundesliga winners.
However, despite his heroics in Juve's magical season, which also saw them claim a domestic double, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is a surprise omission from the long-list.
However, the biggest shocks come not at the pinnacle of European football, but from the middle of the Championship table.
QPR midfielder Luongo, who spent last year playing in League One for Swindon Town, makes the list thanks to his exploits in the Asia Cup in January.
The Australian was named best player as his team went on to win the competition on home soil.
Leicester striker Shinji Okazaki, who impressed for Japan and Mainz last season, also makes the list after a strong continental championship.
English representation is limited to just two men, with Wayne Rooney joined by Tottenham's Harry Kane, after his breakthrough season last year.
Manchester City are the best represented English club, with three members of last year's squad and two new arrivals, Kevin de Bruyne and Nicolas Otamendi.
However, somewhat bafflingly one of those five is Wilfried Bony, who has struggled to make any sort of impact since arriving from Swansea in January, but did help Ivory Coast to win the Cup of Nations, alongside Yaya Toure, who is also nominated.
Chelsea have four players nominated, including Premier League player of the year Eden Hazard and controversial striker Diego Costa.
Claudio Bravo - Barcelona
Javier Mascherano - Barcelona
Andres Iniesta - Barcelona
Lionel Messi - Barcelona
Ivan Rakitic - Barcelona
Neymar - Barcelona
Luis Suarez - Barcelona
Gareth Bale - Real Madrid
Karim Benzema - Real Madrid
Sergio Ramos - Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid
Luka Modric - Real Madrid
James Rodriguez - Real Madrid
Toni Kroos - Real Madrid
Giorgio Chiellini - Juventus
Paul Pogba - Juventus
Alvaro Morata - Juventus
Arturo Vidal - Juventus/Bayern
Andrea Pirlo - Juventus/NYCFC
Carlos Tevez - Juventus/Boca
Robert Lewandowski - Bayern
Arjen Robben - Bayern
David Alaba - Bayern
Thomas Muller - Bayern
Manuel Neuer - Bayern
Wilfried Bony - Manchester City
Yaya Toure - Manchester City
Sergio Aguero - Manchester City
Nicolas Otamendi - valencia/Manchester City
Kevin de Bruyne - Wolfsburg/Manchester City
Diego Costa - Chelsea
Willian - Chelsea
Thibaut Courtois - Chelsea
Eden Hazard - Chelsea
Edinson Cavani - PSG
Zlatan Ibrahimovic - PSG
Javier Pastore - PSG
Wayne Rooney - Manchester United
David de Gea - Manchester United
Memphis Depay - PSV/Manchester United
David Ospina - Arsenal
Alexis Sanchez - Arsenal
Antoine Griezmann - Atletico Madrid
Jackson Martinez - Porto/Atletico Madrid
Carlos Bacca - Sevilla/AC Milan
Giovani dos Santos - Villarreal/LA Galaxy
Phillippe Coutinho - Liverpool
Son Heung-Min - Leverkusen/Tottenham
Christian Atsu - Everton/Bournemouth
Paolo Guerrero - Flamengo/Corinthians
Eduardo Vargas - QPR/Hoffenheim
Gary Medel - Inter
Harry Kane - Tottenham
Alexandre Lacazette - Lyon
Andres Guardado - PSV
Carlos Sanchez - River Plate
Andre Ayew - Marseille/Swansea
Massimo Luongo - Swindon/QPR
Shinji Okazaki - Mainz/Leicester
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