The first six names of Ballon d'Or announced (Ranks 17-14)

The Ballon d’Or has started announcing it’s names

Also, Read – Ballon d'Or 2016 Award Live Ceremony

In at 17^th is Toni Kroos. The German midfield maestro conducted his way to the UEFA Champions League title with Real Madrid, and he has proved to be pivotal for Los Blancos. The German metronome was simply exceptional.

Joint 17^th is his Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric. The Croatian had an amazing year, and it was this duo of Kroos and Modric that powered their rise in Europe.

Another 17^th is West Ham’s and France’s Dimitri Payet was magnificent last year. His rise to the top was the stuff of legends

In at 16^th is Robert Lewandowski. The Polish hitman has been absolutely on fire this year !

In at 14^th is Paul Pogba. The poor start he has had at Manchester United will colour perceptions, but the Frenchman was brilliant for Juventus in the Serie A

As we are speaking the latest update is that Arturo Vidal has come in at 14^th

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Here’s the full list of 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or –

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund), Gareth Bale(Real Madrid), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Kevin de Bruyne(Manchester City), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Antoine Griezmann(Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United), Andres Iniesta(Barcelona), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich),Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Neymar(Barcelona), Dimitri Payet (West Ham), Pepe (Real Madrid), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Jamie Vardy(Leicester City), Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich).