MANCHESTER City and Manchester United have two players apiece on the Ballon d’Or shortlist for the world’s best player after the list was announced yesterday.
Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne and Sergio Aguero have been named as well as Manchester United’s two summer signings Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Premier League quartet join last year’s winner Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo on the 30-man shortlist.
Barcelona’s Messi won the award for a record fifth time last year, with either him or Ronaldo coming out victorious every year since Kaka’s win in 2005.
Leicester City duo Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy are also included after leading the Foxes to their first ever Premier League title last season.
West Ham midfielder Dmitri Payer and fellow French international Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur are the other Premier League players on the shortlist.
Vardy’s inclusion amongst the world’s elite strikers is just reward after his 24 league goals last campaign, which included breaking the record for scoring in the most consecutive games (11) and earned him his first call-up to the England national squad.
Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale joins Vardy as the British representations on the shortlist after lifting Wales to the semi-finals of the European Championships over summer.
The last British winner of the Ballon d’Or came fifteen years ago when Michael Owen scooped the prestigious award during his spell at Liverpool in 2001.
The 30-man shortlist traditionally reduces to three players ahead of the awards ceremony in January.
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