The 2018 Ballon d’Or nominees shortlist has finally come to light and this is the first time in a decade that a player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo has the change of winning the trophy.
The Ballon d’Or has been the monopoly of Ronaldo and Messi for a number of years now but last season a number of other players had far better seasons as compared to the both of them.
Here are the 2018 Ballon d’Or nominees shortlist:
Sergio Aguero – Manchester City
Alisson – Liverpool
Gareth Bale – Real Madrid
Karim Benzema – Real Madrid
Kevin de Bruyne – Manchester City
Edinson Cavani – Paris St-Germain
Thibaut Courtois – Real Madrid
Roberto Firmino – Liverpool
Diego Godin – Atletico Madrid
Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid
Eden Hazard – Chelsea
Isco – Real Madrid
Harry Kane – Tottenham
N’Golo Kante – Chelsea
Hugo Lloris – Tottenham
Mario Mandzukic – Juventus
Sadio Mane – Liverpool
Marcelo – Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe – Paris St-Germain
Lionel Messi – Barcelona
Luka Modric – Real Madrid
Neymar – Paris St-Germain
Jan Oblak – Atletico Madrid
Paul Pogba – Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo – Juventus
Ivan Rakitic – Barcelona
Sergio Ramos – Real Madrid
Mohamed Salah – Liverpool
Luis Suarez – Barcelona
Raphael Varane – Real Madrid
Since 2008 it has either been Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi who has won the Ballon d’Or but this year’s 2018 Ballon d’Or nominees has a number of players who can easily beat the trend.
The obvious one being Luka Modric who recently won the FIFA award for the best player.
Another name that has popped up since the announcement of the 2018 Ballon d’Or nominees list is that of Mo Salah as the Egyptian is leading an online poll in France Football as the number one player who can lift the trophy.
Unlike other seasons when the 2018 Ballon d’Or nominees list is dotted with players from Spain and other parts of Europe, this year’s list has quite a number of Premier League candidates.
Along with Mo Salah, his attacking partners at Liverpool, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane also make it to the list.
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is the only player on the 2018 Ballon d’Or nominees list meaning David De Gea does not make the cut.
Manchester City are represented by Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne.
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