Football – Ballon d’Or 2018: Shortlisted Players Announced

ballon d'or

Lionel Messi, Neymar and World Cup champ Kylian Mbappe are among the last players named on the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist.

They are joined by Mbappe’s France colleagues Hugo Lloris, Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane, and Croatia star Luka Modric, who won the World Cup Golden Ball.

Football – Who Will Win This Year’s Ballon d’Or?

Modric’s international team colleagues Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Rakitic are likewise on the shortlist, as are Liverpool couple Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Finishing the last 15 candidates for France Football’s prize are Real Madrid’s Marcelo and Sergio Ramos, Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak and Barcelona forward Luis Suarez.

Mbappe scored 21 goals for Paris Saint-Germain last season before featuring in France’s triumphant Russia 2018 battle, netting three times on their way to the last and afterward again in the 4-2 prevail upon Croatia that fixed their second World Cup triumph.

The youngster is likewise on the 10-player shortlist for the debut Kopa Trophy, another prize for the best player under 21, which is made a decision by stars including Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi.

Messi and Neymar did not have a World Cup as noteworthy as Mbappe’s, but they were instrumental in Barcelona and PSG’s separate title wins.

Different players competing for the 2018 Ballon d’Or incorporate a year ago’s victor Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Harry Kane, Eden Hazard and Antoine Griezmann.

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