Ballon d'Or: Ronaldo the favourite to retain crown

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar head the list of the 30 Ballon d'or nominees announced by France Football on Monday.

Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar and Buffon are among the 30 Ballon d'Or nominees.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were among the standout names on the 30-man shortlist for the 2017 Ballon d'Or released by France Football on Monday.

Real Madrid star Ronaldo and his Barcelona rival Messi have shared the past nine awards, the latter becoming the first man to win it on five occasions in 2015.

The Portugal captain is expected to draw level with Messi, having helped Real Madrid win La-Liga and become the first side to successfully defend the Champions League in its modern guise.

Ronaldo is joined by six of his Madrid team-mates, making the European champion the best-represented club in the nominees.

The 30 nominees for the 2017 Ballon d'Or France Football ! #ballondorpic.twitter.com/TBRQwRvo4E

— France Football (@francefootball) October 9, 2017

La-Liga accounts for more than a third of the short-list with 11 of the players plying their trade in Spain's top flight. The Premier League is next (7), followed by Serie A (5), Ligue 1 (4) and the Bundesliga (3).

It will be difficult for anyone to topple Ronaldo, but should it occur the man to depose him will be one of the individuals listed with the 32-year-old below.

 

Nominees