Modric, Salah, Ronaldo, 27 others make Ballon d’Or list
Real Madrid hitman and FIFA best player of the year Luka Modric has been named in a thirty –man list for the Ballon d’Or.
The 30-man list released on Monday included ex-Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Real Madrid and Wales forward Gareth Bale and Manchester City’s Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne are also in the race.
Modric, a World Cup runner-up with Croatia, beat Juventus’ Ronaldo and Salah to win the FIFA Best player award last month after Messi was surprisingly left off the final three-man list. Modric also won the UEFA Best Player award.
Ronaldo, 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. Messi has also won the award on five occasions.
FIFA split from the Ballon d’Or in 2016 to launch its own set of awards. The winner of the prestigious Ballon d’Or organised by France Football magazine will be announced on December 3.
