With Leicester City and West Ham United players featuring in the 2016 edition, this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist is like no other.
The lineup of thirty nominees was eventually released in full yesterday via a series of staggered announcements.
Premier League stars of last season Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Dimitri Payet are all included and fans will be hoping they can topple hot favourite Cristiano Ronaldo when the votes are counted.
Expensive Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba was not mentioned as the first names were disclosed but it was later confirmed that he too will be in the running for the award.
These were the best jokes as the Ballon d’Or 2016 shortlist is revealed:
"Does Cristiano deserve the Ballon d'or this year?" 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/NSbjCCYiLj
— Leo Messi (@messi10stats) October 23, 2016
Aguero, Aubameyang, Bale, Buffon and Ronaldo are all confirmed as on the the 30 man Balon d'Or shortlist
In other news, Pogba likes to dab.
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) October 24, 2016
Jamie Vardy has been nominated for the 2016 Ballon d'Or. pic.twitter.com/GIRl7kg9Bo
— Not Match of the Day (@NOT_MOTD) October 24, 2016
Hello
#BallondOr2016 #LordBendtner pic.twitter.com/JtkF6I6WxE— Lord Bendtner (@Iordbendtner) October 24, 2016
Zeki Fryers nowhere to be seen on the Ballon d'Or shortlist?!
I am outraged.
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) October 24, 2016
Vardy has gone from Non-League to Ballon d'Or nominee in the same time Wayne Rooney has gone from being Ballon d'Or nominee to Bus Driver.
— joshua jones (@joshuapsjones) October 24, 2016
Tony Pulis nominated for the Baloon d'Upfield
— Ain't That Pecular (@martincroom) October 24, 2016
Closing in on 20 years since Alan Shearer marked his third-place finish in the 1996 Ballon d'Or by wearing the third best suit. pic.twitter.com/Y0zWLa1H9Z
— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) October 24, 2016
Mesut Özil not being nominated for the Ballon D'or is the second biggest robbery in football after Juventus getting £89M from Pogba.
— Mohamed ELNneny (@ElNnenyM) October 24, 2016
A West Ham player has been nominated for Ballon D'Or. I'm pretty sure 2016 is fictional
— Cartlon Cole (@_CarltonCole9) October 24, 2016
Jamie Vardy has been nominated for the Ballon D'Or.
This is the world we live in now.
— Coral (@Coral) October 24, 2016
Pogba nominated for Ballon D'or? He'd be better suited to the Salon Door.
— LFC Globe (@LFC_Globe) October 24, 2016
28,550 – Number of bottles of WKD that Jamie Vardy could buy if he won a Ballon D'or trophy and sold it. Party.
— OptaJoke (@OptaJoke) October 24, 2016
Ozil lukin at th #BallondOr2016 nomination list & noticing his left out . Still #GainWithYahBoiSelfie pic.twitter.com/8J0Wos82l8
— S.A.V.A.G.E (@chris_mwakha) October 24, 2016
Was gonna comment about Vardy on the Ballond'or shortlist, but I'll wait til after saturday incase he pings 3 past Lloris and I look stupid.
— Yidvids (@YidVids) October 24, 2016
Jamie Vardy celebrates his Ballon D'or nomination pic.twitter.com/PLzGSX0eXl
— Football Burp ⚽ (@FootballBurp) October 24, 2016
Paul Pogba better enjoy his nomination for football's most prestigious individual award, because it's the last time he's getting it.
— Dharma (@Kloppholic) October 24, 2016