Harry Kane, Neymar, N’Golo Kante, Kevin De Bruyne and Philippe Coutinho are among the first 15 players on the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist for the 2017 award.
Ballon d’Or organisers France Football have released the first 15 names to be included on the shortlist and Neymar is joined by Premier League stars Kane, De Bruyne, Kante, Coutinho and David De Gea.
Tottenham’s Harry Kane has gained recognition for a 2016-17 season in which he won his second consecutive Premier League Golden Boot award.
Tottenham striker Harry Kane is among the 30 players named on the Ballon d’Or shortlist
Neymar has been named on the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist following his move to PSG
The England striker is currently enjoying a rich vein of form and his winner against Lithuania on Sunday night was his 15th strike in his last ten matches for club and country.
Neymar’s £198million move to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona this summer was reportedly partly motivated by a desire to claim the award after finishing fifth in the 2016 voting.
And the 25-year-old has settled in to life at the Parc des Princes quickly with eight goals in his opening eight matches in all competitions.
Kante was the first Premier League star to be announced following a 2016-17 campaign which saw the midfielder scoop PFA Players’ Player of the Year honours as Chelsea won the title.
He is joined by Brazilian midfielder Coutinho, whose outstanding form for Liverpool last season attracted bids worth £138m from Barcelona in the summer.
Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea makes the list after missing out in 2016 and City’s Belgian midfielder De Bruyne has also been named.
Philippe Coutinho’s form for Liverpool attracted a £138m offer from Barcelona this summer
N’Golo Kante is on the shortlist after playing a key role in Chelsea’s title-winning campaign
Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric and Marcelo are included after playing pivotal roles for Real Madrid as they claimed a Champions League and La Liga double in 2016-17.
Barcelona striker Luis Suarez, who came fourth in 2016 voting, is also present while Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak has been named on the 30-man shortlist for the first time in his career.
And Serie A duo Paulo Dybala and Dries Mertens have also made the list. Dybala enjoyed a breakthrough campaign for Juventus as they stormed to the league title while Mertens netted 34 goals playing as a makeshift No 9 for Napoli.
Real Madrid trio Sergio Ramos (left), Marcelo (centre) and Luka Modric (right) are on the list
Cristiano Ronaldo remains the heavy favourite to defend his 2016 crown. He clinched last year’s title ahead of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann and is expected to be among the names announced later in the day.
If Ronaldo wins this year he would equal Messi’s haul of five Ballon d’Ors. The rivals have shared the last nine awards between them since Ronaldo claimed his first in 2008 as a Manchester United player.
The remaining 20 names on the shortlist will be announced at intervals throughout Monday with the full shortlist set to be revealed by 6.15pm.
Luis Suarez of Barcelona and Uruguay makes the list after finishing fourth in the 2016 voting