Luka Modrić on 2016 Ballon d’Or Shortlist

Luka Modrić shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or (photo credit: UEFA)

Real Madrid’s Croatia midfielder Luka Modrić has been named on the 30-man shortlist for the 2016 Ballon d’Or by France Football today…

Modrić, who has had a fantastic year before injury forced him out, is the only Croatian to make the shortlist. Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitić, who was a candidate last year for the award, was left of the list of the 30 best players in the world.

Including Modrić, Real Madrid have six players up for the award this year with Gareth Bale, Ronaldo, Pepe, Sergio Ramos and Toni Kroos also announced on the list today.

The Ballon d’Or award started in 2010 after France Football’s Ballon d’Or and the men’s FIFA World Player of the Year award were merged. The award has been dominated by Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as part of their ongoing rivalry. In the last 8 years only those two players have won the Ballon d’Or.

Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munchen), Zlatan Ibrahimović (PSG), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus) and Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City) are also among this year’s nominees.

Luka Modrić (photo: Drago Sopta HNS)

2016 Ballon d’Or shortlist

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund)
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Paulo Dybala (Juventus)
Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid)
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United)
Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)
Koke (Atletico Madrid)
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)
Luka Modrić (Real Madrid)
Riyad Mahrez (Leicester)
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Hugo Lloris (Tottenham)
Dimitri Payet (West Ham)
Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
Pepe (Real Madrid)
Neymar (Barcelona)
Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon)
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
Luis Suarez (Barcelona)
Jamie Vardy (Leicester)
Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich)