Cristiano Ronaldo is in contention to retain the Ballon d'Or for the third successive year after being named on the 30-man shortlist.
The 33-year-old forward, who ended his nine-season stay at Real Madrid by moving to Juventus for £99million in the summer, is a five-time winner of the award.
Ronaldo played a key role in Real's Champions League triumph last season and scored a World Cup hat-trick for Portugal against Spain.
7/30 👌 @Cristiano🇵🇹 Portugal⚽ Forward📍 @juventusfc3⃣3⃣ years old🏆 5-time winner (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) The nominees ▶ https://t.co/PuSb2n2x5Z#ballondor pic.twitter.com/FFFctI1IZQ — #ballondor (@francefootball) October 8, 2018
Ronald has been in the headlines recently after strenuously denying allegations of rape.
Nominees for the honour are being released gradually throughout Monday, with Manchester City pair Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne and Liverpool duo Alisson Becker and Roberto Firmino the current Premier League contenders.
Wales international Gareth Bale, scorer of a brace in Real's European final win over Liverpool, is among the 10 names already released.
These are the first nominees for the 2018 Ballon d'Or France Football! 🇦🇷Sergio Agüero ▶ @aguerosergiokun 🇧🇷Alisson Becker ▶ @Alissonbecker 🏴Gareth Bale ▶ @GarethBale11 🇫🇷Karim Benzema ▶ @Benzema 🇺🇾Edinson Cavani ▶ @ECavaniOfficial 5/30 #ballondor pic.twitter.com/7I0PF7l8ij — #ballondor (@francefootball) October 8, 2018
Bale's club-mate Luka Modric, who is yet to be named as a candidate, is among the early favourites after Real's European success against the Reds and leading Croatia to the World Cup final.
The honour, now separate from FIFA's own Best player of the year award, is bestowed annually by France Football magazine.
Confirmed nominees: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Edinson Cavani (Paris St Germain), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid).
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