Several Italian newspapers are reporting that Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi will miss out on the Ballon d’Or podium.
Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport and La Stampa are among the publications which believe there will be no Ronaldo or Lionel Messi in the final three.
Il Corriere specifically refers to a video published by L’Equipe promoting the ceremony on December 3, which begins with images of Ronaldo’s victory last year.
However, the Portuguese is followed by Kylian Mbappe, Raphael Varane and Luka Modric, before there is a break in the footage.
Varane has lifted both the World Cup and Champions League this year, and the Frenchman would become the first defender to win the Ballon d’Or since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.
Furthermore, the publication states the No 7’s absence is partly linked to his decision to leave Real Madrid for Juve.
The 33-year-old has won five Ballon d’Ors in his career and recently claimed he ‘deserved’ to add to his haul.