Once Again Ronaldo Makes Ballon d'Or shortlist

 

Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo and team-mates Gareth Bale have been confirmed on the 30-man shortlist for the 2016 Ballon d'Or. France Football have announced the first 10 players in contention for the prize, awarded last year to Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.

Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Manchester City duo Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne, and Juventus trio Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain and Gianluigi Buffon also join Bale and Ronaldo. Atletico Madrid's Diego Godin and Antoine Griezmann complete the shortlist as it stands, with the remaining 20 names revealed later on Monday.

Portugal captain Ronaldo, who last won the Ballon d'Or in 2014, is currently favourite to take home the trophy for the fourth time after helping his country beat Griezmann's France to win Euro 2016.
This year's edition of the prestigious individual prize will be judged solely by a panel of journalists after FIFA and France Football ended their partnership.

Between 2010 and 2015, FIFA's World Player of the Year award had been combined with the Ballon d'Or to create the FIFA Ballon d'Or, which was decided by a combination of votes from national team managers, captains and journalists.