Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is odds-on to claim what would be a record equalling fifth Ballon d’Or trophy.

Widely considered the most prestigious annual award in football, and Real Madrid forward Ronaldo is expected to grab his fifth ‘Golden Ball’ which will put him level with arch-rival Lionel Messi.

Indeed, no player over than Ronaldo or Messi have won the award since 2007 when Brazilian Kaka beat the pair to the gong.

France Football, who run the award, announced the 30-man shortlist which consists of seven Premier League-based players in the shape of Eden Hazard, David de Gea, Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane, Kevin de Bruyne, N’Golo Kante and the only Englishman Harry Kane.

Despite the 30-man list, Ronaldo is almost unbackable when it comes to the award with PaddyPower rating him at 1/25 – with his nearest rival seen as Messi, who is a massive 14/1.

Ballon d’Or shortlist

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon),Karim Benzema (Real Madrid and France), Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan and Italy), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus and Italy), Edinson Cavani (Paris St-Germain and Uruguay) Philippe Coutinho(Liverpool and Brazil), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City and Belgium), David de Gea (Manchester United and Spain), Paulo Dybala (Juventus and Argentina), Edin Dzeko (Roma and Bosnia-Herzegovina), Radamel Falcao (Monaco and Colombia), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid and France), Eden Hazard (Chelsea and Belgium), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich and Germany), Isco (Real Madrid and Spain), Harry Kane (Tottenham and England), N’Golo Kante (Chelsea and France), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid and Germany), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich and Poland), Sadio Mane(Liverpool and Senegal), Marcelo (Real Madrid and Brazil), Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain and France), Dries Mertens (Napoli and Belgium), Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina) Luka Modric(Real Madrid and Croatia), Neymar (Paris St-Germain and Brazil), Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid and Slovenia), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid and Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal),Luis Suarez (Barcelona and Uruguay).