Football: 2018 Ballon d'Or nominees revealed

By Fatih Erel

ISTANBUL

The shortlist of 30 football players for the 2018 Ballon d'Or award was released on Monday.

The list includes Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid's Luka Modric, Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Paris St. Germain's Neymar.

Real Madrid dominated the 30-man shortlist with seven current players and one former player Juventus' Ronaldo.

Each year, France Football magazine awards its Ballon d'Or trophy to the world's best football player.

The winner will be announced in a ceremony in Paris on Dec. 3.

In September, Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Luka Modric won the Best FIFA Men's Player 2018 award.

Men's nominees are as follows:

Luka Modric (CRO / Real Madrid)

Mohamed Salah (EGY / Liverpool)

Lionel Messi (ARG / Barcelona)

Neymar (BRA / PSG)

Cristiano Ronaldo (POR / Juventus)

Sergio Aguero (ARG / Manchester City)

Alisson (BRE / Liverpool)

Gareth Bale (GAL / Real Madrid)

Karim Benzema (FRA / Real Madrid)

Edinson Cavani (URU / PSG)

Thibaut Courtois (BEL / Chelsea)

Kevin De Bruyne (BEL / Manchester City)

Roberto Firmino (BRE / Liverpool)

Diego Godin (URU / Atletico Madrid)

Antoine Griezmann (FRA / Atletico Madrid)

Eden Hazard (BEL / Chelsea)

Isco (ESP / Real Madrid)

Harry Kane (ANG / Tottenham)

N'Golo Kante (FRA / Chelsea)

Hugo Lloris (FRA / Tottenham)

Mario Mandzukic (CRO / Juventus)

Sadio Mane (SEN / Liverpool)

Marcelo (BRE / Real Madrid)

Kylian Mbappe (FRA / PSG)

Jan Oblak (SLO / Atletico Madrid)

Paul Pogba (FRA / Manchester United)

Ivan Rakitic (CRO / Barcelona)

Sergio Ramos (ESP / Real Madrid)

Luis Suarez (URU / Barcelona)

Raphael Varane (FRA / Real Madrid)