Last updated on .From the section European Football

Gareth Bale (left) and Harry Kane crossed paths at Tottenham before the former left to join Real Madrid in 2013

Wales forward Gareth Bale and England striker Harry Kane are among the nominees for the 2018 Ballon d'Or.

The 30-man shortlist is dominated by Champions League winners Real Madrid, who have eight players nominated.

Chelsea's Eden Hazard, Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne are among 11 Premier League players on the list.

The Ballon d'Or, first presented in 1956, is given to the best player of the year.

A ceremony to announce the winner of the prestigious award will take place in Paris on 3 December, when a women's award will also be presented for the first time.

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero is a contender, as are Liverpool keeper Alisson and forwards Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

Paul Pogba, of Manchester United, Chelsea's N'Golo Kante and Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris are also selected.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Juventus from Real Madrid in the summer, won last year's Ballon d'Or and is again a contender along with five-time winner Lionel Messi.

Tottenham's Kane, 25, who is shortlisted alongside team-mate Hugo Lloris, helped England reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia, while 29-year-old Bale scored twice for Real Madrid in the Champions League win over Liverpool.

The shortlist:

2018 Ballon d'Or nominees Position Country Club Sergio Aguero Forward Argentina Manchester City Alisson Goalkeeper Brazil Liverpool Gareth Bale Forward Wales Real Madrid Karim Benzema Forward France Real Madrid Kevin de Bruyne Midfielder Belgium Manchester City Edinson Cavani Forward Uruguay Paris St-Germain Thibaut Courtois Goalkeeper Belgium Real Madrid Roberto Firmino Forward Brazil Liverpool Diego Godin Defender Uruguay Atletico Madrid Antoine Griezmann Forward France Atletico Madrid Eden Hazard Forward Belgium Chelsea Isco Midfielder Spain Real Madrid Harry Kane Forward England Tottenham N'Golo Kante Midfielder France Chelsea Hugo Lloris Goalkeeper France Tottenham Mario Mandzukic Forward Croatia Juventus Sadio Mane Forward Senegal Liverpool Marcelo Defender Brazil Real Madrid Kylian Mbappe Forward France Paris St-Germain Lionel Messi Forward Argentina Barcelona Luka Modric Midfielder Croatia Real Madrid Neymar Forward Brazil Paris St-Germain Jan Oblak Goalkeeper Slovenia Atletico Madrid Paul Pogba Midfielder France Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo Forward Portugal Juventus Ivan Rakitic Midfielder Croatia Barcelona Sergio Ramos Defender Spain Real Madrid Mohamed Salah Midfielder Egypt Liverpool Luis Suarez Forward Uruguay Barcelona Raphael Varane Defender France Real Madrid

What is the Ballon d'Or?

The Ballon d'Or has been awarded by France Football every year since 1956, with former England international Sir Stanley Matthews the first winner.

The list is compiled by the editorial staff of the French publication, with the winner voted for by journalists from around the world, with one representative per nation.

For six years it combined with world football's governing body to become the Fifa Ballon d'Or.

However, Fifa ended its association with the award in September 2016.

At Fifa's awards in September, Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric was named the world's best male player, while Brazil and Orlando Pride forward Marta won the best female player award.