Ballon d'Or nominees: Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane and Gareth Bale shortlisted

Ronaldo is the current holder of the Ballon d'Or

By Sky Sports News

Image: Cristiano Ronaldo has been nominated for the 2018 Ballon d'Or amid the on-going rape allegation against him, which he denies

Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane have been included in the 30-man shortlist by France Football magazine for the 2018 Ballon d'Or.

Ronaldo makes the list despite facing an allegation of rape by a woman he met in Las Vegas in 2009. He denies the accusation.

The Portuguese forward - who won his fifth Ballon d'Or in 2017 - is joined on the shortlist by Kane and former Real Madrid team-mates Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane.

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Tottenham striker Kane was among the nominees announced on Monday, along with Chelsea duo Eden Hazard and N'Golo Kante.

Liverpool forwards Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are also in contention.

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Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe and Hugo Lloris were some of the World Cup-winning France squad recognised by France Football.

Lionel Messi, another five-time Balon d'Or winner, has been shortlisted for the award with former Barcelona team-mate Neymar.

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Image: Paul Pogba has struggled for Man Utd, but shone at the World Cup

The names were released in groups of five throughout the day, with a 30-man shortlist drawn up ahead of the awards ceremony in Paris on December 3.

The Ballon d'Or is separate from FIFA's own world player of the year awards, known as The Best, which was won by Real Madrid's Croatia midfielder Luka Modric.

The shortlist is curated by the editorial office of France Football, and the winner is then picked from the list by a panel of international journalists, with one representative per country.

Image: Gareth Bale was one of the first nominees for the 2018 Ballon d'Or

The Ballon d'Or is awarded according to three separate criteria. The panel judge nominees on: their performances during the calendar year, their talent and fair play, and their achievements throughout their career.

Each panel member picks their top five nominees, with their first pick being awarded six points, their second pick receiving four points, their third three points, their fourth two points and their final pick one point.

The player with the most points received once all panel members have cast their votes is awarded the Ballon d'Or. In the event of a tie, the player with the most first picks is given the award.

2018 Ballon d'Or nominees

Sergio Aguero Manchester City & Argentina
Alisson Liverpool & Brazil
Gareth Bale Real Madrid & Wales
Karim Benzema Real Madrid
Edinson Cavani PSG & Uruguay
Thibaut Courtois Real Madrid & Belgium
Cristiano Ronaldo Juventus & Portugal
Kevin De Bruyne Manchester City & Belgium
Roberto Firmino Liverpool & Brazil
Diego Godin Atletico Madrid & Uruguay
Antoine Griezmann Atletico Madrid & France
Eden Hazard Chelsea & Belgium
Isco Real Madrid & Spain
Harry Kane Tottenham Hotspur & England
N'Golo Kante Chelsea & France
Hugo Lloris Tottenham & France
Mario Mandzukic Juventus & Croatia
Sadio Mane Liverpool & Senegal
Marcelo Real Madrid & Brazil
Kylian Mbappe PSG & France
Lionel Messi Barcelona & Argentina
Luka Modric Real Madrid & Croatia
Neymar PSG & Brazil
Jan Oblak Atletico Madrid & Slovenia
Paul Pogba Manchester United & France
Ivan Rakitic Barcelona & Croatia
Sergio Ramos Real Madrid & Spain
Mohamed Salah Liverpool & Egypt
Luis Suarez Barcelona & Uruguay
Raphael Varane Real Madrid & France

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