30-player longlist for the 2016 Ballon d`Or. announced

The first Ballon d`Or was won by Stanley Matthews, at the time with Blackpool, who beat Alfredo Di Stefano for the inaugural title in 1956.

The winner will be determined by a vote of journalists -- national team captains and managers will no longer have a say after the ending of the five-year deal between France Football and FIFA.

Three-time world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo and last year`s victor Lionel Messi, who has won it five times altogether, are among the favourites to take the prize once again.
Ronaldo, who took home the award in 2008, 2013 and 2014, set himself up for a potential fourth Ballon d`Or when captaining Portugal to Euro 2016 glory and helping Real Madrid to an 11th Champions League triumph.

1. Sergio Aguero (ARG/Manchester City),
2. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (GAB/Borussia Dortmund)
3. Gareth Bale (WAL/Real Madrid)
4.  Gianluigi Buffon (ITA/Juventus)
5.  Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Real Madrid)
6. Kevin De Bruyne (BEL/Manchester City)
7. Paulo Dybala (ARG/Juventus)
8.  Diego Godin (URU/Atletico Madrid)
9.  Antoine Griezmann (FRA/Atletico Madrid)
10. Gonzalo Higuain (ARG/Juventus)
11. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SWE/Manchester United)
12.  Andres Iniesta (ESP/Barcelona)
13.  Koke (ESP/Atletico Madrid)
14.  Toni Kroos (GER/Real Madrid)
15.  Robert Lewandowski (POL/Bayern Munich)
16. Hugo Lloris (FRA/Tottenham Hotspur)
17.  Riyad Mahrez (ALG/Leicester City)
18.  Lionel Messi (ARG/Barcelona)
19.  Luka Modric (CRO/Real Madrid)
20. Thomas Mueller (GER/Bayern Munich)
21. Manuel Neuer (GER/Bayern Munich)
22. Neymar (BRA/Barcelona)
23. Dimitri Payet (FRA/West Ham United)
24.  Paul Pogba (FRA/Manchester United)
25. Pepe (POR/Real Madrid)
26. Rui Patricio (POR/Sporting Lisbon)
27. Sergio Ramos (ESP/Real Madrid)
28. Luis Suarez (URU/Barcelona)
29. Jamie Vardy (ENG/Leicester City)
30. Arturo Vidal (CHI/Bayern Munich)