Four football legends name their 2018 Ballon d'Or favourites

The Ballon d'Or ceremony is just around the corner and football fans have been buzzing with speculation around this year's winner.

It appears that football legends have also joined in on the debate with many having made their pick from the thirty-man shortlist released by France Football. The full list includes: Sergio Aguero, Alisson Becker, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Edinson Cavani, Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, Roberto Firmino, Diego Godin, Antoine Griezmann, Eden Hazard, Isco, Harry Kane, N’Golo Kante, Hugo Lloris, Mario Mandzukic, Sadio Mane, Marcelo, Kylian Mbappe, Luka Modric, Neymar, Paul Pogba, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Ramos, Mohamed Salah, Luis Suarez, Jan Oblak Raphael Varane, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Here we take a look at four football legends who have given their verdict on the potential winner:

#1 Roberto Carlos

Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos has picked Croatia and Real Madrid star Luka Modric as the player to take home the award this year.

Speaking of his Ballon d'Or favourite, Carlos said (via Marca), "Luka Modric is the favourite for me, now he's physically better and he's going to be at his best again."

Modric has been recognised for helping Real Madrid to their third consecutive Champions League title and for leading his home country Croatia to their first ever FIFA World Cup final.

The midfielder has already won the UEFA Best Player of the Year award, as well as The Best FIFA Men's Player Award this year. It remains to be seen whether all the rumours surrounding his win are, in fact, true.

#2 Didier Drogba

Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has tipped World Cup and Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe as the man to win the coveted prize.

Speaking to Goal in New Delhi, the two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner said, "It would be really nice to see Kylian Mbappe win it. It would be refreshing."

The former striker, however, acknowledged Cristiano Ronaldo's potential of winning the award a record sixth time.

"But Ronaldo is still there, he's still a machine. He won all these Champions League trophies, changed leagues to go to Juventus, and he's scoring goals there. The man is just unbelievable."

#3 Ronaldinho

Brazilian legend Ronaldinho's has surprisingly picked Manchester United star Paul Pogba as his favourite to win the Ballon d'Or.

Speaking to Canal Football Club, Ronaldinho said, "He [Pogba] can win the Ballon d'Or, without a doubt."

"He is young, talented and he has the ability to play anywhere, he can play in a free role, defensive, as a runner or attacking."

"He has the characteristics of a player who can fill any position, he can make history."

The former Barcelona man has also expressed his faith in his compatriot Neymar Jr and his ability to win top individual awards.

Ronaldinho said (via ESPN), "Neymar does not need my advice to win Ballon d'Or. His time will come when he will win it."

"He's one of the best players in the world, and will keep getting better and better."

#4 Gianluigi Buffon

SSC Napoli v Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League Group C

Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon has tipped his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe as the man to take home the coveted prize.

Speaking in French TV show Tout Le Sport (via The Mirror), the veteran keeper said, "Mbappe is a phenomenon. In Italy, they compare him to [Roberto] Baggio, [Francesco] Totti, [Alessandro] Del Piero, but he has talent and technical quality that I’ve rarely seen in my career."

"For his qualities, what he does on the pitch and how decisive he was at the World Cup he deserves it [the Ballon d’Or]. I can’t say the opposite."

"If he keeps wanting to be the best, if he retains his enthusiasm and continues to behave normally, then he can become that and stay the best for a long time."

Edited by Sagnik Monga