THE Ballon d'Or nominations have highlighted some of the biggest stars in world football over the past year — including Mo Salah, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
But there have also been some notable omissions from the showpiece annual soccer awards, not least last year's winner Luka Modric.
It has been a far tougher 12 months for the World Cup finalist Modric, along with both his club Real Madrid and country Croatia, who have gone off the boil after a stellar 2018.
World record £198million man Neymar is among them, as is England and Spurs hotshot goalscorer Harry Kane, while Champions League winner Andy Robertson has also been overlooked.
Chelsea fans will be dumbfounded that N'Golo Kante has not been nominated in midfield after his spectacular performances helping the Blues win the Europa League.
Spurs' Christian Eriksen is also unlucky not to make the list after the playmaker managed to get his team to the Champions League final.
Aymeric Laporte has been one of Manchester City's most influential players on their march to a second Premier League crown in a row.
Those on the Ballon d'Or include Liverpool front three Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Salah.
Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez is also included, as is Raheem Sterling and — perhaps surprisingly — so is Hugo Lloris.
Despite Arsenal not even making the top four in the Premier League, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's goalscoring exploits have got him a nomination.
Ajax trio Matthijs de Ligt, Donny van der Beek and Frenkie de Jong are also in there.
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