Ballon D'or 2016: Aubameyang, Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, Mahrez Shortlisted, See Full List

Cristiano Ronaldo was announced alongside Real Madrid team-mate Gareth Bale among the first nominees for the 2016 Ballon d'Or on Monday.

The Portuguese forward and Barcelona's Lionel Messi have monopolised the gong since 2008—Ronaldo winning it three times and Messi five—and the Real star is a strong favourite to prevail again this year.


Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Manchester City's Sergio Aguero and Juventus veteran Gianluigi Buffon were also included among the first nominees:

Ballon d'Or 2016 Nominees
Sergio Aguero Manchester City
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Borussia Dortmund
Gareth Bale Real Madrd 
Gainluigi Buffon Juventus 
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrd 
Kevin De Bruyne Manchester City 
Paulo Dybala Juventus
Diego Godin Atletico Madrid
Antonie Griezmann Atletico Madrid 
Gonzalo Higuain Juventus
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Manchester United
Andres Iniesta Barcelona
Koke Atletico Madrid 
Toni Kroos Real Madrid 
Robert Lewandowski Bayern Munich
Hugo Lloris Tottenham 
Lionel Messi Barcelona
Riyad Mahrez Leicester City
Luka Modric Real Madrid
Thomas Muller Bayern Munich
Manuel Neuer Bayern Munich
Neymar Barcelona 
Dimitri Payet West Ham United
Pepe Real Madrid
Paul Pogba Manchester United
Rui Patricio Sporting Cp
Sergio Ramos Real Madrid
Luis Suarez Barcelona
Jamie Vardy Leicester City 
Arturo VidalBayern Munich