Ballon d’Or 2018: 16 Footballers pick their winner

#9. Ivan Rakitic

"With all respect to other players who have won it [Ballon d'Or], we know there is a player who is different to the others and that is Leo Messi, Sometimes there are circumstances like Luka Modric doing an outstanding season and maybe people want to change a bit."

Source - Rakitic flips Ballon d'Or support back to Messi from Modric

Ivan Rakitic is also a part of the 30-man shortlist of Ballon d'Or 2018 nominees. But he believes it is his teammate at FC Barcelona who deserves to win the award. Messi clearly scores over Modric with this one, especially coming from a player who plays alongside both of them, one at club level and the other at the national level.

#10 Diego Godin

Diego Godin, who plays for Atletico Madrid alongside Antoine Griezmann, was extremely vocal in supporting Antoine to win the award. He went at length to express his opinion on why he thinks Antoine deserves to win the Ballon d'Or 2018.

"As a team-mate, as captain and as a friend, I hope with all my heart that Antoine wins the Ballon d'Or, I know he would be very happy and all of us at Atletico will share his happiness if that were the case, and the French too. Antoine's role goes far beyond scoring goals or making assists. He is, above all, a team player; a player who puts the collective before everything.

He knows and feels what he needs to do on the pitch for the common good. Antoine understands the game very well and makes the right decisions for others. Moreover, he has emotional intelligence to move properly on the pitch. Antoine stands out, makes the difference."

Source - Godin desperate for Griezmann to end Ronaldo-Messi Ballon d'Or dominance