Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure feels being African hurts his chances of winning individual awards. The 30-year-old echoed club colleague Samir Nasri's claim that only his birthplace has blocked him from being hailed as one of the best midfielders in the world.
"I think what Samir was saying was definitely true," Toure told BBC Sport.
"To be honest, proper recognition has only come from the fans. I don't want to be hard and I don't want to be negative, but I want to be honest."
Compatriot Didier Drogba and Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o have also reached the top level of European football and Toure said: "Those players are more than legends for me and Africa.
"I am very proud to be African, I want to defend African people and I want to show to the world that African players can be as good as the Europeans and South Americans."
