The Shillong Times🇦🇷🇫🇷🇬🇧
Dembele, Kane and Mbappe among Ballon d’Or nominees
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Paris, Sep 8: Defending champion Ousmane Dembele, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe headline the 30-player shortlist for the men’s Ballon d’Or, while two-time winner Alexia Putellas leads the women’s contenders. France Football revealed the nominees on Tuesday, with the winners to be announced in London on October 26. Dembele is in contention after helping Paris Saint-Germain win a second successive Champions League title. Kane enjoyed a prolific campaign with Bayern Munich, scoring 73 goals for club and country and winning the Bundesliga, while Mbappe broke Lionel Messi’s record for most World Cup goals, reaching 22. Record eight-time winner Lionel Messi, now 39, is also among the nominees after helping Argentina reach the World Cup final and winning MLS with Inter Miami. In the women’s category, Putellas, Ewa Pajor and Melchie Dumornay are among the leading contenders. Reigning winner Aitana Bonmati was left out after missing most of the season through injury. The awards will be held in London for the first time, marking the 70th anniversary of the inaugural Ballon d’Or won by England legend Stanley Matthews.