France Football magazine revealed the 30 candidates for the annual prize on Monday which includes four Liverpool players, Allison, Firmino, Mane & Salah!
The trio of Firmino, Mane and Salah led Liverpool to the Champions League final last season in addition to a top 4 finish in the Premier League. The trio was accompanied by new red recruit Allison Becker. Having just signed from Roma, Allison led the Serie A side to their first Champions League semi final appearance. He also represented Brazil in the World Cup, having lost in the quarter finals.
The fab front three each have 10 Champions League goals to their name. The were pivotal in the run to final in this process broke several goals scoring records in Europe.
Firmino netted 27 goals in all competition last season and was instrumental in red success.
Mane, yet another key figure, scored 20 goals last season and impressively scored in every knockout round in the Champions League.
Salah broke several records last season which can be termed as one of the best debut season in the premier league having broken the all time goal scoring record. Salah scored an astonishing 32 goals in a 38 game season. He further added 12 goals in different competitions. Salah’s stellar performance was applauded as he finished third in FIFA THE BEST Award.
2018 Ballon d’Or nominees
- Sergio Aguero (Argentina/Manchester City)
- Alisson Becker (Brazil/Liverpool)
- Gareth Bale (Wales/Real Madrid)
- Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid)
- Edinson Cavani (Uruguay/Paris Saint-Germain).
- Thibaut Courtois (Belgium/Real Madrid)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus)
- Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City)
- Roberto Firmino (Brazil/Liverpool)
- Diego Godin (Uruguay/Atletico Madrid)
- Antoine Griezmann (France/Atletico Madrid)
- Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea)
- Isco (Spain/Real Madrid)
- Harry Kane (England/Tottenham Hotspur)
- N’Golo Kante (France/Chelsea)
- Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham Hotspur)
- Mario Mandzukic (Croatia/Juventus)
- Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool)
- Marcelo (Brazil/Real Madrid)
- Kylian Mbappe (France/Paris Saint-Germain)
- Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona)
- Luka Modric (Croatia/Real Madrid)
- Neymar (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain)
- Jan Oblak (Slovenia/Atletico Madrid)
- Paul Pogba (France/Manchester United)
- Ivan Rakitic (Croatia/Barcelona)
- Sergio Ramos (Spain/Real Madrid)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool)
- Luis Suarez (Uruguay/Barcelona)
- Raphael Varane (France/Real Madrid)
