The Ballon d’Or nominees were named on Monday to be recognised as the planet’s top players in the chase for football’s most prestigious individual award.

With France Football electing to reveal the nominees in a five-by-five staggered fashion, it took many hours before the final list of 30 stars was finally confirmed.

The French publication has overseen the awarding of the Ballon d’Or since the prize was first commissioned back in 1956. Following a brief partnership with Fifa, the football body has once again cut ties with France Football and seems to be poised to reinstate its own version of the accolade, the Fifa World Player of the Year award.

The Ballon d’Or was formally limited to the best European player plying his trade in Europe, but that criterium was later amended to include players based in Europe and, then finally, players from around the world.

Serial winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are again tipped to be among the leading contenders for the prize this year, the duo having shared the awards on offer between them since 2008.

Complete list of nominees:

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund)

Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

Paulo Dybala (Juventus)

Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid)

Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)

Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli/Juventus)

Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain / Manchester United

Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)

Koke (Atletico Madrid)

Hugo Lloris (Tottenham)

Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)

Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)

Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)

Neymar (Barcelona)

Dimitri Payet (West Ham)

Pepe (Real Madrid)

Paul Pogba (Juventus/Manchester United)

Rui Patricio (Sporting)

Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

Luis Suarez (Barcelona)

Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich)