Ghana and Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey has touched on a sensitive issue with regards to how African players are not given much prominence at the international stage compared to Europeans.
Partey, 25, believes the Africa continent has produced players wealthy of recognition at the World stage but they are normally relegated to the background whiles the Europeans take centre stage.
The dread-locked defensive midfielder added his voice to other professional African players to have touched on the same issue.Â
“If we are compared with European players, it looks like they are more considered than a player from Africa,†Partey told Spanish international news agency, EFE.
 “We had very good players, like Yaya Toure, Michael Essien. They were considered as good players, but not at the level to win a Ballon d’Or because they come from Africa, but they are ‘top’ players from Africa.
“We consider them as ‘top’ players but not at the level of the likes of Modric, Messi or Ronaldo, but there were very many good African players.
“Eto’o and Drogba scored a lot of goals and could have won the Ballon d’Or, but they did not succeed,†he said.
Current Liberia president George Weah remains the only African winner of the Ballon d’Or, which he won in 1995 while playing for AC Milan.
Partey joined Atletico Madrid B in 2013 before enrolling to the main team two years later.
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