Just Now: Ronaldo, Bale, Aguero, 27 others in 2018 Ballon d’Or shortlist

Ballon d’Or season is in full swing, and the first five nominations have been revealed!

It is 10 years since Juventus attacker Cristiano Ronaldo first won the award, marking the start of an unprecedented duopoly between the Portuguese and Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

The last winner outside of the superhuman pair is Kaka, the Brazilian playmaker who won the prize in 2007.

Real Madrid and Wales forward Gareth Bale is among the nominees for this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or award.

Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and striker Sergio Aguero are also contenders, as are Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and forward Robert Firmino.

The 30-man list of nominees will be revealed throughout the day.

The Ballon d’Or, a prestigious award presented since 1956, is given to the best player of the year.

The ceremony to announce the winner will take place in Paris on 3 December, when a women’s award will be presented for the first time.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Juventus from Real Madrid in the summer, won last year’s Ballon d’Or and is again a contender.

Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and keeper Thibaut Coutois, and Paris St-Germain attacker Edinson Cavani are the other nominees to have been named so far.

The Ballon d’Or has been awarded by France Football every year since 1956, with former England international Sir Stanley Matthews the first winner.

The list is compiled by the editorial staff of the French publication, with the winner voted for by journalists from around the world, with one representative per nation.

For six years it combined with world football’s governing body to become the Fifa Ballon d’Or.

However, Fifa ended its association with the award in September 2016.

At Fifa’s awards in September, Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric was named the world’s best male player, while Brazil and Orlando Pride forward Marta won the best female player award.

2018 Ballon d’Or nominees
PositionCountryClub
Sergio AgueroForwardArgentinaManchester City
AlissonGoalkeeperBrazilLiverpool
Gareth BaleForwardWalesReal Madrid
Karim BenzemaForwardFranceReal Madrid
Kevin de BruyneMidfielderBelgiumManchester City
Edinson CavaniForwardUruguayParis St-Germain
Thibaut CourtoisGoalkeeperBelgiumReal Madrid
Roberto FirminoForwardBrazilLiverpool
Diego GodinDefenderUruguayAtletico Madrid
Antoine GriezmannForwardFranceAtletico Madrid
Eden HazardForwardBelgiumChelsea
IscoMidfielderSpainReal Madrid
Harry KaneForwardEnglandTottenham
N’Golo KanteMidfielderFranceChelsea
Cristiano RonaldoForwardPortugalJuventus

 

Ballon d’Or winners: Ronaldo & Messi dominate since 2008
2008Cristiano RonaldoLionel MessiFernando Torres
2009Lionel MessiCristiano RonaldoXavi
2010Lionel MessiAndres IniestaXavi
2011Lionel MessiCristiano RonaldoXavi
2012Lionel MessiCristiano RonaldoAndres Iniesta
2013Cristiano RonaldoLionel MessiFranck Ribery
2014Cristiano RonaldoLionel MessiManuel Neuer
2015Lionel MessiCristiano RonaldoNeymar
2016Cristiano RonaldoLionel MessiAntoine Griezmann
2017Cristiano RonaldoLionel MessiNeymar

 

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