Aubameyang named but Modric, Neymar miss out on 30-Man Ballon D'Or shortlist

The holder of the men's award, Luka Modric(L), Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (M) and world's most expensive player Neymar Jr.

What you need to know:

Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar, who cost the French club 222 million euros ($247 million) in 2017, failed to make the 30-man shortlist after a year overshadowed by injury, suspension and controversy for both club and country.

The holder of the men's award, Luka Modric, and the world's most expensive player Neymar missed out as France Football unveiled nominees in four categories on Monday.

Modric, fresh from guiding Croatia to a World Cup final, broke the 11-year Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi, who are both included, stranglehold on the men's award last year.

Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar, who cost the French club 222 million euros ($247 million) in 2017, failed to make the 30-man shortlist after a year overshadowed by injury, suspension and controversy for both club and country.
Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has made the shortlist for the Ballon D’Or. The 30 year old has been rewarded for his consistent, excellent goalscoring for the Gunners.

Virgil Van Dijk, 28, who has had an impressive six months with Liverpool lifting the Champions League, could become a rare defensive winner of the men's award.

Fabio Cannavaro was the last defender to win in 2006, and only the fourth since the award began in 1956.

Another nominee, Kylian Mbappe, the top goal scorer in Ligue 1 last season, would represent a genuine change of the guard.

The Paris Saint-Germain striker is inelgible to defend his Kopa trophy for the best player under 21 last year as he celebrates his 21st birthday on December 20.

This year also sees the introduction of the Yashin trophy, named after the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon D'Or, Lev Yashin of the Soviet Union, to give that ignored minority a chance to get their hands on a prize of their own.

The award winners will be unveiled on December 2 during a ceremony in Paris after a voting process including journalists from 180 different countries.

Full list of nominees
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool/Netherlands)

Bernardo Silva (Man City/Portugal)

Heung-min Son (Tottenham/South Korea)

Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Poland)

Roberto Firmino (Liverpool/Brazil)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus/Portugal)

Alisson Becker (Liverpool/Brazil)

Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax/Juventus/Netherlands)

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool/Netherlands)

Kylian Mbappé (PSG/France)

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool/England)

Donny van de Beek (Ajax/Netherlands)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal/Gabon)

Marc-André ter Stegen (Barcelona/Germany)

Sadio Mané (Liverpool/Senegal)

Sergio Agüero (Man City/Argentina)

Frenkie de Jong (Ajax/Barcelona/Netherlands)

Hugo Lloris (Tottenham/France)

Dusan Tadic (Ajax/Serbia)

Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina)

Riyad Mahrez (Man City/Algeria)
Kevin De Bruyne (Man City/Belgium)

Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli/Senegal)

Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid/Barcelona/France)

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool/Egypt)
Eden Hazard (Chelsea/Real Madrid/Belgium)

Marquinhos (PSG/Brazil)

Raheem Sterling (Liverpool/England)

João Félix (Benfica/Atlético Madrid/Portugal)