The Ballon d’Or shortlist was unveiled on Monday with 30 of the world’s top talent battling it out for the award.
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba are all among the nominations while 10 other Premier League stars have also made the cut.
European champions Real Madrid dominate the selections with eight players while French World Cup winners Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe are mixing it with the early favourites.
The editorial staff at France Football, who first presented the accolade back in 1956, compiled the shortlist which will then be voted on by journalists from around the world.
As Sky Sports explains: “The panel judge nominees on their performances during the calendar year, their talent and fair play, and their achievements throughout their career.”
The player who gets the most points in the vote is awarded the Ballon d’Or.
According to
VBet, Modric is the “odds-on favourite” to win in 2018. Ronaldo is the second favourite - despite the recent allegations levelled against him - while France and PSG wonderkid Mbappe is third.
Ballon d’Or winner betting odds
Prices according to VBet (as of 9 October)
- Luka Modric: 1.43
- Cristiano Ronaldo: 2.75
- Kylian Mbappe: 10.00
- Lionel Messi: 17.00
- Antoine Griezmann: 10.00
- Mohamed Salah: 30.00
- Harry Kane: 45.00
- Kevin de Bruyne: 45.00
- Neymar: 25.00
- Eden Hazard: 40.00
- Paul Pogba: 40.00
- Philippe Coutinho: 81.00
- Thibaut Courtois: 80.00
- Luis Suarez 151.00
