'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
As the Ballon d'Or ceremony draws closer, heavy speculation around the winner of the award have been doing the rounds. Most reports have stated that this could be the year another player breaks the Cristiano Ronaldo/Lionel Messi duopoly over the award.
There have also been reports that the two five-time winners will not feature in the final three for the award at all, with the likes of Luka Modric, Raphael Varane, and Kylian Mbappe all rumoured to fill the top spots instead.
The thirty-man shortlist for the award was released by France Football several weeks ago with the full list including: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, 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, and Raphael Varane.
In a turn of events, it looks like a Spanish radio has managed to get their hands on the top-three list. Onda Cero tips Croatia and Real Madrid star, Luka Modric, as the winner of the coveted prize, followed by Juventus ace Cristiano Ronaldo, and Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann.
The Croatian midfielder has been a Ballon d'Or favourite for months following his role in Real Madrid's third consecutive Champions League title win, and Croatia's journey to its first World Cup final.
Having already won the UEFA Best Player of the Year award, as well as The Best FIFA Men's Player Award, a Ballon d'Or would only cap off what has been a great year for the midfielder.
Twitter has since reacted to the leaked news.
