France Football has announced their 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist at 5pm UK time this evening with Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the list.
The most coveted individual prize in football – won last year by Real Madrid star Luka Modric – is again up for grabs.
Modric was the first player in a decade to break the Mess-Ronaldo duopoly, and Van Dijk is the man tipped to beat them to the gong this year.
Mane, who scored 26 goals in 50 games last season as Liverpool won a sixth European Cup, would appear to be a favourite to finish in the top ten, with Tadic and De Jong deservedly making the cut after their scintillating display helped Ajax reach the Champions League semi-final and win Eredivisie.
Aguero won a domestic treble for Manchester City, firing in 32 goals in 46 games to put himself in the Ballon d’Or conversation.
The Ballon d’Or has been awarded by the French magazine since 1956 and sees their editorial staff put together the initial 30-man shortlist.
