Former Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool defender Kolo Toure has claimed that a mixture of his and his brother Yaya Toure's qualities would create a player good enough to win the Ballon d'Or.

Both players carved out successful careers in the Premier League, with Kolo part of two title-winning sides and Yaya lifting the trophy on three occasions with Man City.

Kolo admits that his younger brother was the more talented of the two, suggesting that it was only the midfielder's workrate which prevented him from being the best player in the world.

"I can't compare myself to my brother. He was a better player than me, for sure. I know he loves City but because English is not our first language, sometimes we say things we don't mean," Toure is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

"He did better than me here and he is more talented. But I am more competitive than Yaya. I was a better runner and I worked hard. If Yaya had my work, with his talent, he would win the Ballon d'Or."

Yaya Toure was named African Player of the Year on four occasions, a joint-record for the award alongside Samuel Eto'o.