Dimi nominated for Ballon D'Or

 

Dimitri Payet has been nominated for the 2016 Ballon d’Or – the prestigious award presented to the world’s best player.

The Ballon D’Or (Golden Ball) has been organised by France Football magazine since 1956 and is based on voting by Europe-based journalists.

The West Ham United midfielder has enjoyed a stellar year, scoring nine goals and assisting 16 more in Claret and Blue and winning the Hammer of the Year award at the end of his maiden season in east London.

Payet has also excelled for France, scoring six goals and setting up four to inspire his country to the final of UEFA Euro 2016.

The 29-year-old is among eight Premier League players shortlisted among the 30 finalists, alongside fellow countryman Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City pair Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy, Manchester United duo Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba, and Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne and Sergio Aguero.

 

Payet posted a message on his Instagram account after receiving his nomination, saying: "An honour and a great pride to be a member of this list of 30 players nominated for the Ballon D'Or 2016."

The award has been won in each of the last seven years by either Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, who took home one award while with Manchester United and two more since joining Real Madrid.

No West Ham player has ever won the Ballon D’Or, although captain Bobby Moore finished as runner-up to Germany centre forward Gerd Muller in 1970 – the year he led England to the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals in Mexico.

This year’s winner will be announced in January.

2016 Ballon D’Or shortlist: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Neymar (Barcelona), Dimitri Payet (West Ham), Pepe (Real Madrid), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich).