Mesut Ozil being nominated for the Ballon d'Or is a 'big satisfaction', says Arsene Wenger as he rants about award (without realising the Arsenal star ISN'T on the 30-man shortlist)

OZIL

He is known as 'The Professor' but even Arsene Wenger can get his calculations wrong at times it seems.

Speaking ahead of their Premier League clash at Sunderland on Saturday afternoon, the Arsenal boss was effusive in his praise of Mesut Ozil being nominated for the Ballon d'Or.

The only thing is that his German playmaker isn't on the list.

BALLON D'OR SHORTLIST

Sergio Aguero

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Gareth Bale

Gianluigi Buffon

Cristiano Ronaldo

Kevin De Bruyne

Paulo Dybala

Diego Godín

Antoine Griezmann

Gonzalo Higuain 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Andres Iniesta

Koke

Toni Kroos

Robert Lewandowski

Hugo Lloris

Riyad Mahrez

Lionel Messi

Luka Modric

Thomas Muller

Manuel Neuer

Neymar

Dimitri Payet

Pepe

Paul Pogba 

Rui Patricio

Sergio Ramos

Luis Suarez

Jamie Vardy

Arturo Vidal

NATIONS REPRESENTED 

Argentina - Four players

France - 4

Spain - 3 

Portugal - 3

Germany - 3

Uruguay - 2 

Algeria - 1

Belgium - 1 

Brazil - 1

Chile - 1 

Croatia - 1 

England - 1

Gabon - 1

Italy - 1 

Poland - 1  

Sweden - 1

Wales - 1 

France Football, the sole organisers of the prize given to the best footballer in the world following a split from FIFA, published their 30-man shortlist on Monday - with no place for Ozil.

However, on Friday it was clear that Wenger had got his wires crossed believing that Ozil had made the cut - even though he is against the annual prize-giving for the world's best player.

'Certainly there is a big satisfaction for him and for us as well, but I am against it because I think it gets in the head of players,' he said.

'We have seen many people only thinking about themselves because they are obsessed by Ballon d'Or and not by the team performance and I believe football is a collective sport and we live already in a world where everything is individualised.

'We want to respect what football is about, first about the team effort.

'Of course, I encourage and congratulate the players who do well and I'm happy for that.

'But when you look at the history you do not always think that it has been the most objective decision always and I think that the players who are the best, we know very well about them.

'Let's take care of those who are not as much in the glory. The best - we know all about them.'

While Ozil didn't make the cut there are eight Premier League stars who did get nominated for the prestigious award.

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez catapulted Leicester to a maiden Premier League title - in undoubtedly the story of last season.

LEAGUES REPRESENTED 

La Liga - 13 players

Premier League - 8

Bundesliga - 5

Serie A - 3

Primeira Liga - 1

And consequently their feats have seen them rubbing shoulders with the very best footballers on the planet after making the cut.

Aside from the dynamic duo there is Premier League representation in the form of Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne.

Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is included alongside team-mate Paul Pogba, who won a domestic double with former club Juventus and also helped France reach the European Championship final in the summer.

Pogba's national team-mate Hugo Lloris is also included on the 30-strong shortlist. The Frenchman almost led his country to Euro 2016 glory and helped Tottenham achieve Champions League qualification last season.

West Ham golden boy Dimitri Payet is in the running for the coveted trophy after a sparkling first season in the Premier League.