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Ballon d'Or LIVE stream: How to watch 2017 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony online
THE Ballon d’Or is here as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi go head-to-head to be named the world’s best player and here’s how you can watch it online.
Ballon d'Or 2017: The ceremony for the 2017 winner is tonight
The Ballon d’Or is the award given to the best player in the world each year with Lionel Messi winning it five times and Cristiano Ronaldo four.
But this could be the year he draws level after a stunning 2017.
This year 30 players have been nominated although it is likely to go to one of the big two.
You need to go back to 2007 to find a different winner when Kaka topped Ronaldo and Messi - who finished second and third respectively.
And the pair are expected to head the votes again this year with Ronaldo winning the Champions League and La Liga double in May.
BALLON d'OR LEAK: IMAGES REVEAL 2017 WINNER
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to pick up his fifth Ballon d'Or award tonight
When is the 2017 Ballon d’Or awards?
The 62nd edition Ballon d'Or will be held on Thursday, December 7.
The ceremony kicks-off at 6.45pm GMT, 7.45pm local time.
Where is the 2017 Ballon d’Or awards?
The ceremony is held in Paris.
How to watch the Ballon d’Or online?
French news outlet L’Equipe’s dedicated TV channel will be screening all the coverage.
It will also be shown on the France Football website.
Express Sport will live blog the event.
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Who will present the Ballon d’Or?
Former Tottenham and Newcastle winger David Ginola will present the awards ceremony.
Who will win the Ballon d’Or?
Cristiano Ronaldo is the big favourite after another stunning year.
If he is victorious he will join Lionel Messi on five Ballon d’Ors.
Similarly if Messi comes second, he will join Ronaldo on five second places.
Last year Neymar came third and he may do again.
The full Ballon d’Or shortlist
Neymar - Paris Saint-Germain
N'Golo Kante - Chelsea
Luka Modric - Real Madrid
Paulo Dybala - Juventus
Marcelo - Real Madrid
Edin Dzeko - Roma
Harry Kane - Tottenham
David De Gea - Manchester United
Robert Lewandowski - Bayern Munich
Kevin De Bruyne - Manchester City
Karim Benzema - Real Madrid
Pierre-Emerick Aubemyang - Borussia Dortmund
Edinson Cavani - Paris Saint-Germain
Philippe Coutinho - Liverpool
Luis Suarez - Barcelona
Jan Oblak - Atletico Madrid
Sergio Ramos - Real Madrid
Dries Mertens - Napoli
Radamel Falcao - Monaco
Sadio Mane - Liverpool
Gianluigi Buffon - Juventus
Antoine Griezmann - Atletico Madrid
Toni Kroos - Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid
Eden Hazard - Chelsea
Leonardo Bonucci - AC Milan
Isco - Real Madrid
Lionel Messi - Barcelona
Mats Hummels - Bayern Munich
Kylian Mbappe - Paris Saint-Germain
How do you win the Ballon d’Or
The Ballon d’Or is held by French Football magazine and they ask 173 journalists from all over the world to vote.
Ronaldo to win?
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to join Lionel Messi as the joint-most successful player in Ballon d’Or history.
The Real Madrid star is set for his fifth win tonight in Paris and will lift the award at the Eiffel Tower ceremony.
Nike have tweeted a big hint after pictures emerged of special boots detailing the 2017 success.
But the sportswear giant, who sponsor Ronaldo, posted an image on Instagram all but confirming the news.
The image features five pictures of Ronaldo with the caption ‘Be your own rival’ with five trophy emojis.
Barcelona star Luis Suarez has been ranked outside the Ballon d'Or top 10
Ballon d'Or 2017 ranks 11th - 29th
11th: Edinson Cavani
12th: Isco
13th: Luis Suarez
14th: Kevin De Bruyne
15th: Paulo Dybala
16th: Marcelo
17th: Toni Kroos
18th: Antoine Griezmann
19th: Eden Hazard
20th: David De Gea
21st: Leonardo Bonucci and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
23rd : Sadio Mane
24th: Radamel Falcao
25th: Karim Benzema
26th: Jan Oblak
27th: Mats Hummels
28th: Edin Dzeko
29th: Dries Mertens andPhilippe Coutinho