Defending champion Lionel Messi has been snubbed in the men's Ballon d'Or vote... but Cristiano Ronaldo has made the cut.
Organisers France Football released their 30-man shortlist for this year's award on Friday. They also confirmed the nominees for the women's award, Kopa Trophy and Yashin Trophy. The ceremony takes place on October 17, one month before the World Cup starts.
Karim Benzema is the big favourite to claim the prize after helping Real Madrid win the La Liga title, Champions League, Supercopa de Espana and UEFA Super Cup during the past 12 months. Robert Lewandowski and Sadio Mane are also among the favourites.
Mohamed Salah is one of six Liverpool players to be nominated for the honour, with Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fabinho also included. The other Premier League stars on the list are Erling Haaland, Joao Cancelo, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez, Son Heung-min, Harry Kane and Ronaldo.
Ronaldo, 37, has made every Ballon d'Or shortlist since 2005 and won the honour five times. Messi, 35, picked up a record seventh last time out but won't add to his tally this year. His snub comes after he scored just 11 goals for Paris Saint-Germain last season.
In terms of the women's shortlist, three Lionesses have made the cut. Chelsea's Millie Bright, Arsenal's Beth Mead and Barcelona's Lucy Bronze have all been selected after starting England's victory against Germany in the Women's Euros final at Wembley last month.
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Other candidates include defending champion Alexia Putellas of Barcelona and Lyon's Ada Hegerberg, who became the first woman to win the Ballon d'Or in 2018. WSL stars Sam Kerr of Chelsea and Vivianne Miedema of Arsenal are also on the 20-person shortlist.
Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka are among 10 players nominated for the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best youngster in Europe. Other candidates include Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga, Barcelona's Gavi and Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala.
Four Premier League goalkeepers have been nominated for the Yashin Trophy, given to the best performing goalkeeper in Europe. Liverpool's Alisson Becker, Manchester City's Ederson, Chelsea's Edourard Mendy and Tottenham's Hugo Lloris are also in with a shout.
Men's shortlist: Thibaut Courtois, Rafael Leao, Christopher Nkunku, Mohamed Salah, Joshua Kimmich, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Vinicius Junior, Bernardo Silva, Luis Diaz, Robert Lewandowski, Riyad Mahrez, Casemiro, Heung-Min Son, Fabinho, Karim Benzema, Mike Maignan, Harry Kane, Darwin Nunez, Phil Foden, Sadio Mane, Sebastien Haller, Luka Modric, Antonio Rudiger, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kevin De Bruyne, Dusan Vlahovic, Virgil van Dijk, Joao Cancelo, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
Women's shortlist: Asisat Oshoala, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Millie Bright, Trinity Rodman, Ada Hegerberg, Selma Bacha, Fridolina Rolfo, Vivianne Miedema, Lucy Bronze, Sam Kerr, Christiane Endler, Lena Oberdorf, Kadidiatou Diani, Catarina Macario, Alexia Putellas, Alexandra Popp, Aitana Bonmati, Wendie Renard, Alex Morgan, Beth Mead.
Kopa Trophy: Jamal Musiala, Karim Adeyemi, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Eduardo Camavinga, Gavi, Ryan Gravenberch, Nuno Mendes, Josko Gvardiol, Florian Wirtz.
Yashin Trophy: Yassine Bounou, Alisson Becker, Thibaut Courtois, Ederson, Mike Maignan, Edouard Mendy, Manuel Neuer, Jan Oblak, Kevin Trapp, Hugo Lloris.
