Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi NOT in the running for Ballon d’Or as Luka Modric leads the way
Superstar pair have split the last TEN awards but are currently outside top three in voting, according to leaked information
CRISTIANO RONALDO and Lionel Messi are reportedly NOT in the running for the Ballon d’Or.
The superstar pair have split the last TEN crowns between them – with Kaka the last player to beat them in 2007.
But, according to leaked information, neither is currently in the top three of the voting at the halfway stage.
French journalist claims he has had a sneak peek of the standings, and Luka Modric, Raphael Varane and Kylian Mbappe are the names battling it out at the top.
Real Madrid midfielder Modric, 33, is the current bookies’ favourite having already won Fifa’s The Best award this year.
But Ronaldo, also 33, came second at the London bash, ahead of Liverpool’s Mo Salah.
Ronaldo and Messi monopoly
Ballon d'Or 2007
1 – Kaka
2 – Cristiano Ronaldo
3 – Lionel Messi
2008
1 – Cristiano Ronaldo
2 – Lionel Messi
3 – Fernando Torres
2009
1 – Lionel Messi
2 – Cristiano Ronaldo
3 – Xavi
2010
1 – Lionel Messi
2 – Andres Iniesta
3 – Xavi
2011
1 – Lionel Messi
2 – Cristiano Ronaldo
3 – Xavi
2012
1 – Lionel Messi
2 – Cristiano Ronaldo
3 – Andres Iniesta
2013
1 – Cristiano Ronaldo
2 – Lionel Messi
3 – Franck Ribery
2014
1 – Cristiano Ronaldo
2 – Lionel Messi
3 – Manuel Neuer
2015
1 – Lionel Messi
2 – Cristiano Ronaldo
3 – Neymar
2016
1 – Cristiano Ronaldo
2 – Lionel Messi
3 – Antoine Griezmann
2017
1 – Cristiano Ronaldo
2 – Lionel Messi
3 – Neymar
Latest Cristiano Ronaldo news
And it would represent a real shock if the now-Juventus forward – who netted 15 goals in 13 games during Real Madrid’s Champions League winning campaign last season – failed to make the podium.
He, and Argentinian rival Messi, may have been affected by their nations’ poor showing at the World Cup this summer – though Ronaldo did net a sensational hat-trick in Portugal’s 3-3 draw with Spain.
Varane and Mbappe have each seen their stock rise after playing pivotal roles as France came out victorious in Russia… beating Modric’s Croatia in the final.
Ronaldo, who has won the last two Ballons d’Or, did name all three in his top five rivals for this year’s crown last month – while comically leaving out old foe Messi.
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He told France Football: “The same as usual, even if I don’t know if Messi will be on the podium this time.
“So, let’s say Salah, Modric, Griezmann, Varane, Mbappe – the French in general because they are world champions.
“But I will wait and see if all these players are still at the top in 10 years, like Messi and I have done, and like we continue to do.
“Still there, on the podium, since more than 10 years.”
Votes are cast by a group of international journalists with no more than one per country. The winner will be revealed on December 3 in Paris.