Ghana and Swansea City superstar Andre Ayew has been named in the preliminary list of players shortlisted for the World Best Footballer of the Year by FIFA, a report in one of the biggest newspapers in Spain has claimed.

The 25-year-old, who has taken the English Premier League by storm, is reported to be on the list of contenders for Fifa’s Ballon D’Or, according to the Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo.

The Swansea City maestro is on a 59 long-list published by several Spanish media outlets which has favourites Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Barcelona rival Lionel Messi.

Ayew has been nominated for his performances for former club Marseille and Ghana, helping the less fancied Black Stars to reach the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea in February.

The 25-year-old arrived at the Liberty this summer as a free agent and has exceeded expectations.

He made an electric start to his career in the Premier League by grabbing three goals and one assist.

That feat earned Ayew the Barclays Player of the Month for August.

But the presence of a place from the less fancied Swansea City will delight supporters of the club as they rarely have players in the running to be crowned the world’s best player.

Ayew is named alongside Wales and Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale as nominee for Fifa’s Ballon D’Or – according to reports.

There is little surprise to see Bale rewarded for his exploits with his national team as one of seven Madrid stars named on a 59 long-list published by several Spanish media outlets with Bernabeu team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo again tipped to go head-to-head with Barcelona rival Lionel Messi.