John Obi Mikel of Chelsea and ex Chelsea and current Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba were also in the frame. With the year coming up, who would bet against him getting it a fourth time in a years time?
The now 30 year old has won pretty much everything available domestically with his time at Barcelona bringing him La Liga twice, two domestic cups, Champions League, Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Moving to Manchester City in 2010 he had to wait a little for his first trophy in England but then the FA Cup was quickly followed by the Premier League title and although last season yielded no silverware, this season everything is still on the table.
His goal in the Semi Final against Manchester United and then in the FA Cup Final against Stoke City handed City their first major trophy since the League Cup in 1976 and the first FA Cup since 1969. Those two goals alone were enough to give him legendary status for the Blues.
For the Ivory Coast though things have been tougher, never winning the African Cup of Nations, although were runners up on two occasions. 2006 and 2010 were his and his countries first World Cups. 2006 they were in Group C along with Argentina and the Netherlands which proved too much for them and they ended their first World Cup at the Group stage. 2010 was better but again in a Group with Brazil and Portugal les elephants were 3 and out.
This summer we should see more from Toure and Co in what on paper is an easier Group. Colombia, Greece and Japan are no walkovers but certainly are no Argentina, Brazil or Portugal either.
Jason is a Freelance Soccer Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @PACityboy and www.facebook.com/jasonbardwell1979.
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