Ballon d’Or 2018: Modrić, Mandžukić & Rakitić named among finalists 

Modrić & Mandžukić (HNS)

Three Croatians are among the nominees for the Ballon d’Or 2018, France Football announced on Monday. 

Today the 30 players nominated for the prestigious award were unveiled with Ivan Rakitić, Mario Mandžukić and FIFA Player of the Year Luka Modrić among them. 

Luka Modric (Photo: HNS)

Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the awards over the last decade. 

Ivan Rakitić (HNS)

Ballon d’Or Nominees:

Sergio Agüero, Alisson Becker,  Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Edinson Cavani, Thibaut Courtois, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kevin De Bruyne, Roberto Firmino, Diego Godin, Antoine Griezmann, Eden Hazard, Isco,  Harry Kane, N’Golo Kanté, Hugo Lloris, Mario Mandžukić, Sadio Mané, Marcelo, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Luka Modrić, Neymar, Jan Oblak, Paul Pogba, Ivan Rakitić, Luis Suarez, Sergio Ramos, Mo Salah, Raphael Varane

🔴 We have our 30 nominees for the 2018 Ballon d’Or France Football! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/M01sH5gspj

— #ballondor (@francefootball) October 8, 2018

Mario Mandžukić (HNS)

The Ballon d’Or has been awarded by France Football every year since 1956 to the best player of the year with the winner this year to be announced at a ceremony in Paris on 3 December. 

The list is compiled by the editorial staff of France Football, with the winner voted for by journalists from around the world, with one representative per nation.