Bale, Ronaldo on Ballon d’Or shortlist

Three-time world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo will have to take on Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bale for the Ballon d’Or.

Both were on the 2016 shortlist announced on Monday which also featured Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, Borussia Dortmund’s Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Juventus veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. They are joined by Toni Kroos, Robert Lewandowski, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andres Iniesta, Koke

Ballon d’Or sponsors France Football magazine are releasing the names of the 30 shortlisted players in batches of five over the course of Monday. Argentine superstar Lionel Messi was expected to be added later.

Ronaldo, who won the award in 2008 and 2013-14, set himself up for a fourth Ballon d’Or when captaining Portugal to Euro 2016 glory and inspiring Real Madrid to an 11th Champions League triumph.

Antoine Griezmann headed the second set of names released, along with teammate Diego Godin, Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala and Kevin De Bruyne.

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

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.

Last year’s honour went to Ronaldo’s arch rival Messi, the Barcelona and Argentina legend winning it for the fifth time.