Ballon d’Or: All 30 nominees announced as Jamie Vardy takes on all-conquering Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the prestigious award
JAMIE VARDY used to work in a factory when playing in non-league – and today he has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
The Leicester City striker, who scored 24 goals last season as the Foxes won the most unlikely of Premier League titles, was playing for Stocksbridge Park Steels in the Northern Premier League in 2010.
He is nominated for the most prestigious prize for individual footballers along with his Leicester teammate Riyad Mahrez, who used to play in the French lower leagues.
In total, there are eight Premier League players on the list: Vardy, Mahrez, Sergio Aguero, Kevin de Bruyne, Dimitri Payet, Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Hugo Lloris.
But despite all this, Cristiano Ronaldo is red-hot favourite to win the Ballon d’Or for the fourth time.
The award was presided over by Fifa from 2010 to 2015, but France Football have re-taken charge.
Keep up to date with ALL the Ballon d’Or news by clicking HERE
The French magazine announced nominees in bunches of fives throughout the day.
Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Gianluigi Buffon, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Neymar, Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero are all included.
Here is the whole list having been finally announced…
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