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The votes have been counted and the decision has been made. Who will take home the coveted prize?
The 2018 Ballon d'Or gala is upon us, further intensifying debates around who truly deserves the award.
The past decade saw Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominate the football world and the individual prizes that come with it. This year is reportedly set to see a new king as reports of the duo's absence from the top three have been making the headlines.
Several reports have tipped Croatia and Real Madrid star Luka Modric to take home the award this year, with the likes of Raphael Varane and Kylian Mbappe finishing behind him.
While the last few months have seen varied opinions on the winner of the award, players who are featured on France Football's thirty-man shortlist have also given their verdict on the issue.
We take a look at seven 2018 Ballon d'Or nominees who have weighed in on the debate surrounding the winner:
#1 Luka Modric
We begin our list with the top favourite for the award: Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric.
Despite being tipped for the grand prize, the 33-year-old refuses to acknowledge his chances at the Ballon d'Or, instead naming his two favourites for the award.
Speaking to France Football, Modric said, "I would put Antoine Griezmann in pole position in terms of the three Frenchmen, for all he has achieved this year."
"Mbappe? He's an extraordinary talent, a wonderful promise for the future but who has already displayed a great level. He's really special."
The FIFA Men's Player of the Year winner added, "I do not like to talk that way and say, 'Yes, I deserve the Golden Ball'. The important thing for me is to be in the field as I have been for months."
"This year 2018 has been without a doubt the best of my career."
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo
Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo is not known to shy away from acknowledging his talents and has given his honest and blunt opinion on who deserves the award.
Speaking to France Football, the Juventus star said, "Of course I want to win, this sixth Ballon d’Or. It would be a lie to tell you the opposite."
The Portuguese ace also named a few favourites for the award while notably snubbing Lionel Messi: "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."
Despite snubbing his longstanding rival, he has also somewhat acknowledged him by saying, "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."
#3 Kylian Mbappe
World Cup and Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe has risen through the ranks in 2018 as he helped his country to a FIFA World Cup title in Russia and his club to a domestic title.
The 19-year-old was also named the Young Player of the Tournament for his exploits in Russia.
The Frenchman snubbed five-time winner Messi to pick Juventus ace Cristiano Ronaldo, Paris Saint-Germain teammate Neymar, World Cup star Luka Modric and his compatriot Raphael Varane as favourites for the award.
Speaking to France Football, Mbappe added his own name on the list as well: "To complete, I think I would put myself too".
The teenager has been tipped to be in the top three for the award in recent weeks, with the likes of Gianluigi Buffon deeming him as worthy of the coveted Ballon d'Or.
#4 Neymar Jr
Brazilian and Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar Jr has ruled himself out of the Ballon d'Or race to name three players who are capable of taking home the coveted prize this year.
Speaking to AS (via the Daily Mail), Neymar revealed his top three favourites to be Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona ace Lionel Messi and his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe: "I would say, Ronaldo, Messi and Mbappe".
Neymar and Mbappe has been wreaking havoc at the French capital so far this season and has even been deemed by former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti as successors to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Speaking to Telefoot, Ancelotti said, "He is a credible candidate to take the place of these champions [Ronaldo and Messi] who win all the trophies."
"I think that Mbappe and Neymar can be the successors of Ronaldo and Messi.
"If he [Mbappe] does not win the Ballon d'Or this year, he will win it in the coming years without any problem. All teams dream of having him."
#5 Sergio Ramos
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has also given his verdict on this year's Ballon d'Or winner, tipping Barcelona ace Lionel Messi, former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, and World Cup star Luka Modric as his top three favourites.
Speaking of his favourites (via MARCA), the Los Blancos defenders said, "Looking at the level of the players, you could give the Ballon d'Or to Messi, Cris or Luka, all of them would be just winners"
"When it was given to Messi it could also have been given to Andres Iniesta or Xavi and so I would give it to Modric"
Earlier this year, Ramos was named in FIFA's best Xl, equaling Andres Iniesta as the Spanish player who has achieved the feat most times.
The defender also spoke about Messi and Ronaldo's absence from the FIFA gala saying, "I consider Cris and Messi to be the best and this awards ceremony deserves to have the best footballers. I would have liked to have seen Leo and Cris."
#6 Eden Hazard
Chelsea star Eden Hazard may have switched his Ballon d'Or favourites from time to time but two players remain a constant on his list: Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric and Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe.
The Belgian, who is currently exhibiting the best form of his career under Maurizio Sarri, told RTFB (via The Standard), "Even though I had a very good year, I have to keep my feet on the ground. I do not deserve the Ballon d'Or. I think there are players who have been better than me."
"Winning the Ballon d'Or is not a goal for me. If I win it one day, great. If I do not, it won't be a problem."
"I would have said Luka Modric but he has played a little less well since August and September. So, if we take into account the beginning of the season, I would say Kylian Mbappe."
#7 Paul Pogba
Manchester United star Paul Pogba has downplayed his chances at the Ballon d'Or, instead naming four players he thinks deserves the accolade.
Speaking to AFP (via The Express UK), the midfielder said, "Whether it's Grizou (Antoine Griezmann), Kylian (Mbappe) or Raph (Raphael Varane), they deserve it much more than me."
"I cannot designate one. But I hope with all my heart that it will be one of the three."
"One of the four, actually, because there is NG (N'Golo Kante). That's all I hope for anyway, because there are many who deserve it. I do not put myself in."
The Frenchman's opinion mirrored Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann's thoughts, who told France Football, "We are world champions, we're part of the best team in the world."
"In this best team in the world, there must be the best player in the world, right?"
"In any case, that's what I think. Afterwards, there are votes, opinions, different judgements."
"But I think that a Frenchman must win the Ballon d'Or this year."
