Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk was made favourite to win the Ballon d’Or after a 30-man shortlist was announced on Monday night.
The Dutch centreback transformed the Reds’ defence since joining them in January 2018, helping them to the Champions League final five months later.
That match ended in a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid, but this season the 28-year-old and his team did win better to lift the trophy.
He is joined by six Anfield pals, Sadio Mane, Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino, Alisson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Van Dijk will battle it out with usual suspects Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, both searching for a record sixth title.
After missing out on Fifa’s top award to Messi in September, Van Dijk is the top of UK bookies to be named France Football’s best player in the world.
The Dutchman has odds off 4/11, followed by Messi with 2/1 and Ronaldo on 25/1, of taking home the prize after the December 2 Paris gala.