Dimitar Berbatov, captain of Bulgaria’s national team, is included among the 50 candidates for the Ballon d'Or award of the French magazine France football, the magazine announced.

The award is given to the best football player of Europe.

France football nominated Berbatov for the Ballon d'Or after his strong season in UK’s Premiership with his team Tottenham.

Focus news agency quoted foreign media as saying that Brazilian star of Milan Ricardo Kaka is in the leads for the award.

David Beckham, last year’s winner Fabio Cannavaro, and Iker Casillas were also among the nominees.

A 52-member jury of sports journalists would select the winner. In the beginning, only European football players were awarded, but since 1995 all footballers playing for European teams could be included in the selection.

If Berbatov would manage to win the Ballon d'Or, he would be the second Bulgarian to be selected best footballer of Europe after Hristo Stoitchkov in 1994.