Since 2007, when Kaka won the award, only Luka Modric and Karim Benzema have won the Ballon d'Or aside from Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, highlighting their dominance over the past 15 years. But neither man features in Neymar 's top four as the Brazilian selected an eventual winner and a pair he feels will come joint-second.

Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, has said his team-mate Lautaro Martinez deserves this year’s Ballon d’Or more than any other player. Martinez is among the 30 nominees for the prize alongside Vinicius Junior,

It's the first time since 2003 that neither Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo have been in contention for football's main individual prize.