30 nominees for 2018 Ballon d’Or have been announced, with the ceremony scheduled for 3 December.

Mohamed Salah, Paul Pogba & Eden Hazard join Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on Ballon d’Or shortlist


Premier League stars Mohamed Salah, Paul Pogba and Eden Hazard are among the nominees for the 2018 Ballon d’Or. France Football are announcing the stars to make the list all through Monday, with Premier League winners Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero among the first ten to make the cut. Cristiano Ronaldo was also confirmed amid allegations the former Real Madrid star raped an American woman in Las Vegas in 2009. Ronaldo is the defending champion, having won his fifth Ballon d’Or in 2017.

NOMINEES… Alisson (BRA/Liverpool) Sadio Mane (SEN/Liverpool) Roberto Firmino (BRA/Liverpool) Thibaut Courtois (BEL/Chelsea) N’Golo Kante (FRA/Chelsea) Eden Hazard (BEL/Chelsea) Harry Kane (ENG/Tottenham) Hugo Lloris (FRA/Tottenham) Sergio Aguero (ARG/Man City) Kevin De Bruyne (BEL/Man City) Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Juventus) Antoine Griezmann (FRA/Atletico Madrid) Isco (ESP/Real Madrid) Gareth Bale (ENG/Real Madrid) Karim Benzema (FRA/Real Madrid) Edinson Cavani (URU/PSG) Diego Godin (URU/Atletico Madrid) Mario Mandzukic (CRO/Juventus) Marcelo (BRA/Real Madrid) Kylian Mbappe (FRA/PSG) Lionel Messi (ARG/Barcelona) Luka Modric (CRO/Real Madrid) Neymar (BRA/PSG) Jan Oblak (SLO/Atletico Madrid) Paul Pogba (FRA/Manchester United) Ivan Rakitic (CRO/Barcelona) Sergio Ramos (SPA/Real Madrid) Mohamed Salah (EGY/Liverpool) Luis Suarez (URU/Barcelona) Raphael Varane (FRA/Real Madrid)

The Ballon d’Or is run by France Football, after confirmation this year Fifa had broken away from the award. A panel of journalists, one from every country, will decide the winner and will grade their nominees in three categories: performances during the calendar year, talent and fair play, and achievements throughout a career.

England’s Lucy Bronze and Fran Kirby are nominated for the Women’s Ballon d’Or, with Orlando Pride star Marta also on the 15-woman shortlist. WOMEN’S BALLON D’OR… Fran Kirby (ENG/Lyon) Lucy Bronze (ENG/Chelsea) Pernille Harder (DEN/Wolfsburg) Ada Hegerberg (NOR/Lyon) Amandine Henry (FRA/Lyon) Lindsey Horan (USA/Portland) Sam Kerr (AUS/Chicago Red Stars) Saki Kumagai (JAP/Lyon) Dzsenifer Marozsan (GER/Lyon) Amel Majri (FRA/Lyon) Marta (BRA/Orlando) Lieke Martens (NL/Barcelona) Megan Rapinoe (USA/Seattle) Wendie Renard (FRA/Lyon) Christine Sinclair (CAN/Portland)

The shortlist for the inaugural Kopa Trophy was also announced, an award which will name the best player under the age of 21. Kylian Mbappe is nominated for his World Cup heroics, while Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold also makes the cut. 10-MAN KOPA TROPHY SHORTLIST… Houssem Aouar (FRA/Lyon) Trent Alexander-Arnold (ENG/Liverpool) Patrick Cutrone (ITA/AC Milan) Ritsu Doan (JAP/Groningen) Gianluigi Donnarumma (ITA/AC Milan) Amadou Haidara (MAL/Red Bull Salzburg) Justin Kluivert (NL/Ajax) Kylian Mbappe (FRA/PSG) Christian Pulisic (USA/Dortmund) Rodrygo (BRA/Santos)