On Monday, "France Football" magazine revealed a list of 30 candidates competing for the prestigious "Ballon d'Or" (Golden Ball) award.
This is the first time in recent years that there is no clear favorite in these awards. Previously, the competition was only between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but this year there is a great chance that neither of them will win this trophy.
This year, Luka Modric has won all the major individual awards, but a strong start to the season by Real Madrid and himself could change journalists' opinions. However, the Croatian is still considered one of the favorites.
Another opinion is presented by the Madrid newspaper "Marca". According to them, unlike in past editions, the outcome of these awards will be greatly influenced by the triumph in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Antoine Griezmann and several other representatives of the French national team are among the top 30. "Marca" believes that Griezmann is a real contender for the highest recognition.
Even though the Frenchman did not have impressive statistics in the past and current seasons, he won several trophies with Atletico Madrid and was a leader in the French national team.
"Marca" also believes that Griezmann's "campaign" will have a great impact. During interviews, the forward constantly emphasizes that the "Ballon d'Or" should go to one of the French national team members.
"France Football", the magazine that established this award, featured Griezmann on its front page in yesterday's publication, indicating a strong support for the Frenchman among journalists.
On the magazine's website, readers can vote for their favorite candidate. These votes will not have any impact on the final outcome, but so far, 50 percent of the votes have gone to Mohamed Salah. However, there are doubts about the Egyptian's chances, as he has received overwhelming support from the Egyptian and Arab communities online multiple times.
