Harry Kane is the only male England international to be nominated for the 2018 Ballon d’Or, but Fran Kirby, who was crowned PFA Player’s Player of the year for 2017/18, and Lucy Bronze, Champions League winner with Lyon, are up for the inaugural Women’s Ballon d’Or award.
Cristiano Ronaldo is in contention to retain the Ballon d’Or and win a record sixth award after once again being nominated for the prestigious trophy following another year of success.
Earlier this year the player secured his fifth Champions League title before his sensational £88m transfer from Real Madrid to Juventus following the conclusion of the World Cup.
Kane, who was ranked tenth in last year’s award, has been nominated again after scoring 30 Premier League goals and winning the World Cup Golden Boot with six goals as England reached the semi-final in Russia. Kane is one of 11 players from the Premier League to be shortlisted, an increase on the seven from the English top division nominated last year, but still three shy of leaders La Liga, who boast 14 nominations.
Paul Pogba’s form at Manchester United may be turbulent, but his impressive performances during the World Cup in France’s run to winning the final sees him nominated. International teammates Kylian Mbappe, N’Golo Kante, Antoine Griezmann, Hugo Lloris and Raphael Varane make up the rest of the French nominations, along with Karim Benzema, who are the largest nation represented in the shortlist of 30 players.
2018 Ballon d'Or
30 players have been nominated
Sergio Aguero (ARG / Manchester City)
Alisson (BRA / Liverpool)
Gareth Bale (WAL / Real Madrid)
Karim Benzema (FRA / Real Madrid)
Edinson Cavani (URU / PSG)
Thibaut Courtois (BEL / Chelsea)
Cristiano Ronaldo (POR / Juventus)
Kevin De Bruyne (BEL / Manchester City)
Roberto Firmino (BRA / Liverpool)
Diego Godin (URU / Atlético Madrid)
Antoine Griezmann (FRA / Atlético Madrid)
Eden Hazard (BEL / Chelsea)
Isco (SPA / Real Madrid)
Harry Kane (ENG / Tottenham)
N'Golo Kanté (FRA / Chelsea)
Hugo Lloris (FRA / Tottenham)
Mario Mandzukic (CRO / Juventus )
Sadio Mané (SEN / Liverpool)
Marcelo (BRA / Real Madrid)
Kylian Mbappé (FRA / PSG)
Lionel Messi (ARG / FC Barcelona)
Luka Modric (CRO / Real Madrid)
Neymar (BRA / PSG)
Jan Oblak (SLO / Atlético Madrid)
Paul Pogba (FRA / Manchester United)
Gareth Bale, who scored twice in the Champions League final, has been nominated along with his club teammates, Luka Modric, Isco, Sergio Ramos, Benzema, Thibaut Courtois and Varane. Real Madrid midfielder Modric could be the man to break the Lionel Messi and Ronaldo dominance after starring in Croatia's World Cup run to the final and being named the player of the tournament. Add that to his Champions League win and form for Real Madrid, and there's a convincing case that he is an outsider to win.
19-year-old Mbappe believes he is in with a chance of winning the coveted prize after an influential role in France’s World Cup side. "The Ballon d'Or? Why not? I don't rule out anything," he said after scoring four goals in 14 minutes on Sunday as PSG beat Lyon 5-0 to continue their unbeaten start to the season.
His teammate Edinson Cavani and Neymar, who left Barcelona to pursue individual awards, have also been nominated.
How does it work?
The players, managers and journalists that are chosen to vote for the award allocate five, three and one point to three nominated players, and the player with the highest number of points wins.
French publication France Football began the award in 1956. The prize was temporarily amalgamated with the Fifa World Player of the Year award between 2010 and 2015 but the governing organisation now has its separate Fifa Best awards, although many hold the Ballon d’Or in higher regard.
When is it?
The awards ceremony and details of the voting will be on Monday 3 December.
The Kopa Trophy
Liverpool and England defender Trent Alexander Arnold is one of the nominations along with Kylian Mbappe for the inaugural Kopa Trophy, an award for players under 21. The award, named after Real Madrid and France legend Raymond Kopa, will be judged by past Ballon d'Or winners, including Denis Law, Bobby Charlton, Ronaldo and Messi, who will each vote for the best player.
AC Milan and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Dutch prodigy Justin Kluivert are also on the the 10-man shortlist.
Women's Ballon d'Or
For the first time ever there will be a Women's Ballon d'Or award, and England's Fran Kirby is nominated after being crowned PFA Player's Player of the year for the 2017/18 season following an impressive campaign with Chelsea. Lucy Bronze of Lyon, who won the Champions League, has also been nominated alongside Brazilian star and Fifa World Player of the Year, Marta.
