Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are set to resume their annual contest for the Ballon d'Or after both were included in the 30-man shortlist for the award.
France Football – the magazine that founded the award – released the nominees in six batches of five across Monday, with Ronaldo and Messi once again favourites for the prize with Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann also a strong contender.
Those three are among thirteen candidates from La Liga – Ronaldo's Madrid team-mates Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric are all on the list, although there is no place for Karim Benzema.
Compared to Los Blancos' six players, Barca only have four – Messi joined by Andres Iniesta, Luis Suarez and Neymar, while Griezmann is joined by fellow Atletico duo Diego Godin and Koke.
This year's award sees the return of the prize to France Football after a period of six years where it was run alongside FIFA, the game's governing body.
