Two African players, Egypt’s star Mohammed Salah and the Terranga Lions of Sierra Leone striker, Sadio Mane have been named in the most famous football award in the world -the Ballon D’Or, as Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale and Manchester City’s Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne were among the first 10 nominees for the award announced on Monday.
Both Africans did well at the club level last season though failed to help their countries beyond the group stage at the last FIFA World Cup in Russia. But two-goal hero at the final of the UEFA Champions League against Liverpool of England in May, Bale joins his club teammate Karim Benzema among the first wave of 30 nominees for the year’s best player.
De Bruyne was nominated for helping his club to win the Premier League and his country reach the World Cup semi-finals.
The winner of the prestigious award organised by France Football magazine will be announced on December 3.
Having lost out in the FIFA best player of the year award to Luka Modric , Cristiano Ronaldo takes his place among the 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or that were being unveiled in stages throughout Monday.The Juventus forward, 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.
Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero is nominated as is another prolific South American striker, Edinson Cavani of Uruguay and Paris Saint-Germain. Two goalkeepers are also among the first 10 — Thibaut Courtois of Belgium and Real Madrid and Liverpool and Brazil stopper Alisson Becker .
Liverpool’s Brazilian Roberto Firmino is also nominated and Uruguay’s rugged defender Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid also got the nod.
For the first time, a Ballon d’Or for women players will be awarded this year, with the nominees to be announced later Monday.
In another first, the best under-21 player will receive the Kopa Trophy. Kylian Mbappe , the Paris Saint-Germain striker who burst onto the global scene with his performances as France won the World Cup, is the favourite.
The Ballon d’Or, which was first won by Englishman Stanley Matthews in 1956, is decided by a ballot of journalists from around the world.
First 10 nominees (of 30) for Ballon d’Or
Alisson (Liverpool)
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain)
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)
Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid)
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Isco (Real Madrid)
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)