Ballon d’Or 2018: Hazard, Kante, Ronaldo, others shortlisted in 30-man list

The Ballon d’Or 2018 was unveiled today, and Cristiano Ronaldo, Chelsea stars, Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante made the 30-man list.

Other footballers on the Ballon d’Or 2018 30-man list are Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and Robert Firmino. Real Madrid’s Luke Modric is in the running also to be named the Ballon d’Or winner for 2018, after winning the FIFA Best 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.

See 30/30 names released

Sergio Aguero, Alisson Becker, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Edinson Cavani

Thibaut Courtois, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kevin De Bruyne, Roberto Firmino, Diego Godin

Antoine Griezmann, Eden Hazard, Isco, Harry Kane, N’Golo Kante

Hugo Lloris, Mario Mandzukic, Sadio Mane, Marcelo, Kylian Mbappe

Lionel Messi, Luka Modric, Neymar, Jan Oblak, Paul Pogba

Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Ramos, Mohamed Salah, Luis Suarez, Raphael Varane

This may however finally be the year Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi see their Ballon d’Or supremacy ended. Between them, Ronaldo and Messi have won each of the last 10 Ballon d’Ors.

Both men hold five awards and it seems unlikely that Messi will bag it this time. Ronaldo might after leading Real Madrid to Champions League glory in May. The 2018 Ballon d’ Or award will take place on 3rd December, 2018 in Paris.