Real Madrid and Wales forward Gareth Bale and Manchester City’s Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne were among the first 10 nominees for the Ballon d’Or award announced on Monday.

Bale, who scored two goals in Real’s triumph in the final of the Champions League against Liverpool, joins his club teammate Karim Benzema among the first wave of 30 nominees for the year’s best player.

De Bruyne was nominated for helping his club win the Premier League and his country reach the World Cup semi-finals.

The winner of the prestigious award organized by France Football magazine will be announced on December 3.

Having lost out in the FIFA best player of the year award to Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo takes his place among the 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or that were being unveiled in stages throughout Monday.



The Juventus forward, currently facing allegations of rape dating back to 2009 that he strenuously denies, has already won the Ballon d’Or five times and is the current holder of the award.

Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero is nominated as is another prolific South American striker, Edinson Cavani of Uruguay and Paris Saint-Germain.

Two goalkeepers are also among the first 10 — Thibaut Courtois of Belgium and Real Madrid and Liverpool and Brazil stopper Alisson Becker.

Liverpool’s Brazilian Roberto Firmino is also nominated and Uruguay’s rugged defender Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid also got the nod.

For the first time, a Ballon d’Or for women players will be awarded this year, with the nominees to be announced later Monday.



In another first, the best under-21 player will receive the Kopa Trophy. Kylian Mbappe, the Paris Saint-Germain striker who burst onto the global scene with his performances as France won the World Cup, is the favorite.

The Ballon d’Or, which was first won by Englishman Stanley Matthews in 1956, is decided by a ballot of journalists from around the world.

First 10 nominees (of 30) for Ballon d’Or

Sergio Aguero

Alisson Becker



Gareth Bale

Karim Benzema

Edinson Cavani

Thibaut Courtois

Cristiano Ronaldo



Kevin De Bruyne

Roberto Firmino

Diego Godin

https://www.dailynaija.com/post/bale-de-bruyne-in-first-ballon-dor-nominees

The severe politics going on underground in all these FIFA awards can be mind breaking

Seems the award now goes to the 'highest bidder' in most cases

Won't be surprised to see Atiku Abubakar on the next batch of the list

No Messi! Na lieee!

I hope Cristiano Ronaldo should win this award

Ok so because he's not in the first 10 he's not a favorite
No worry e go clear for ur eye
Like for Messi
Share for Modric
Ignore for Ronaldo

,

he is already prepping for 2019 ballondor

h

您好亲爱的朋友

Eden HAZARD OUGHT TO BE ON THAT LIST.

goldenarrow:
Eden HAZARD OUGHT TO BE ON THAT LIST.

My thoughts though

Let others too win it na... Would prefer Cavani win it this time

Wakanda misleading topic is this ehn? How did messi miss out when they haven't announced the complete list?
So Modric missed out too?

MESSI HAS BEEN MISSING THIS YEAR AND LAST. HAVE ANY SEEN HIM?

I wonder why they keep sideliming Messi. He has done very well just that his team was made up of fools like suarez. Imagine Salah being ahead of messi. Nothing at all could justify that

no messi

Davido = Ronaldo = Hardwork


Wizkid = Messi = Talent




Settled. Let's Atikulate

;Df3

Ronaldo for the honour.

CR7 deserves it this time, irrespective of the criticisms...He has proven to be the best of the best by moving from one club to another, and winning accolades...That's why I prefer him more than Messi who is afraid of failing in another club...That's my objective opinion.

IT Can happen to just anybody

goldenarrow:
Eden HAZARD OUGHT TO BE ON THAT LIST.

add him to your list bro

No Modric?

This is football anything can happen

if them like let them not nominate him, that won't change the fact that he's the G.O.A.T.
and my G.O.A.T too

Is the award different from world best player of the year, which one is more recognize or superior

domainsales18:
CR7 deserves it this time, irrespective of the criticisms...He has proven to be the best of the best by moving from one club to another, and winning accolades...That's why I prefer him more than Messi who is afraid of failing in another club...That's my objective opinion.

This your argument doesn't hold water. Just like saying because Sir Alex was at Utd for most of his career, he is not a great coach.

At this stage of his career, Messi doesn't need anybody, group of persons, individual or organisation to validate that he's the world best. He has seen the best, he has fought the best and he has beaten the best.