Kaka names Modric and Mbappe as favourites to win this year's Ballon d'Or

Former Ballon d'Or winner Kaka has named Luka Modric and Kylian Mbappe as two of the front-runners for this year's acclaimed prize.

Kaka, who was the last person to win the award before a decade of dominance from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in 2007, believes it could be time someone else clinches the trophy again.

Over the past ten years, Ronaldo and Messi have each won the prize on five occasions, but they will face stiff competition this time around.

Speaking to Gazetta dello Sport, Kaka said: 'Modric has had some impressive results, winning the Champions League and being able to play the World Cup final.

'He is the man who creates the show and commands the game.'

And on Mbappe, he added: 'Mbappé is very strong and has a whole career ahead of him. Let the future be yours.'

The pair faced each other in the World Cup final with Mbappe's France coming out on top.

But Modric was also a pivotal part of the Real Madrid side that won their third consecutive Champions League title in May.

Kaka may have not included Ronaldo as a favourite for the title, but he did praise the impact he will have on Italian football.

'For Italian football it's great to have it, it brings visibility, sponsors, media interest around the world,' he said about Ronaldo's sensational £100m move.

'Cristiano brings many things to the Italian soccer system as a whole, not just for Juventus.'