<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container full"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5283c8a86da8111d558b4567-1077-807/cavani-goal-1.jpg?maxX=800" border="0" alt="cavani goal" width="800" /><p class="source"><a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1qjnfz/perfect_freekick_by_cavani/">r/soccer</a></p></div><p></p></div>Uruguay dismantled Jordan in Amman 5-0 to all but secure a trip to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.</p>
<p>They came in ranked 8th in the world, and took care of business away from home.</p>
<p>The goal of the match came from PSG striker Edinson Cavani, who curled a beautiful free kick into the top right corner in stoppage time to make it 5-0.</p>
<p>The goalie doesn't even move.</p>
<p>Here's the GIF (<a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1qjnfz/perfect_freekick_by_cavani/">via r/soccer</a>):</p>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5283c7adecad042a4c8b456d/edinson-cavani-free-kick.gif" border="0" alt="edinson cavani free kick" /><p class="source"><a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1qjnfz/perfect_freekick_by_cavani/">r/soccer</a></p></div><p></p></div></div></p>

Uruguay Player Scores A Gorgeous Free Kick That Leaves The Goalie Standing Still

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5da5b0294af9090a246619e3-2000/pjimage 69.jpg" border="0" alt="Mbappe, Kane, Rashford" data-mce-source="Getty" /></div></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>FC Barcelona is linked with Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Marcus Rashford, <a href="https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20191012/47906000354/el-barca-ira-a-por-un-9-de-maximo-nivel.html"> according to Mundo Deportivo.</a></li><li>Barcelona wants one of those players to replace veteran striker Luis Suarez, whose contract expires in 2021.</li><li>But only one of the three linked is suitable to Barça. That player is Mbappe.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/soccer-news?r=US&amp;IR=T">Read more of our soccer stories here.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</a></li></ul><p>FC Barcelona has a shortlist of players to replace its veteran striker Luis Suarez, <a href="https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20191012/47906000354/el-barca-ira-a-por-un-9-de-maximo-nivel.html">according to the daily Spanish sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo</a>.</p><p>Suarez's contract at Camp Nou expires in 2021, when he'll be 34. Though he is still performing at a high level now, his effectiveness at the top will abate with age.</p><p>But Barça seemingly has a succession plan already as the Spanish champion is reportedly considering signing Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, or Marcus Rashford.</p><p>Kane and Rashford are worth $160 million <a href="https://football-observatory.com/-values-123187">according to their CIES market valuations</a>, while Mbappe could cost as much as $275 million.</p><h2>Two of those players would prove costly errors for Barça</h2><p>Tottenham Hotspur striker Kane, 26, is further along in his career than Rashford, with 130 Premier League goals. But Manchester United's 21-year-old forward has already established himself as one of the planet's brightest young talents since he burst onto the scene at Old Trafford in 2016.</p><p>Talent aside, each presents their own problems which would see them fail at Barcelona, should the La Liga heavyweight prise them from England.</p><p><em><strong>Read more</strong>:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/neymar-and-bale-transfer-news-worlds-top-players-too-expensive-2019-8?r=US&amp;IR=T">Nobody wants to buy the world's top soccer players because they're overpaid and too old and could be a gigantic waste of money</a></em></p><p><strong>Kane is simply not a good fit for Ernesto Valverde's side.</strong></p><p>In Suarez, Barcelona has a striker who is happy to play anywhere across the front three, acting as a provider and a goalscorer. Since joining the club in 2014, Suarez has scored 157 goals in the Spanish league and Europe combined while also tallying 75 assists.</p><p>Kane's goalscoring record is similar to Suarez's across that same period but his assist record is far inferior, managing only 23 - fewer than a third of Suarez's total.</p><p>At Tottenham, Kane is given license to shoot on sight. At Barcelona, that same freedom would not apply. He'd be expected to drop deep, collect the ball, take on players, and feed teammates just as he would be expected to drift wide in a fluid attacking line, just as Suarez does at the Camp Nou presently, and others have before him.</p><p>As good as Kane is, that just isn't his game. His game is built on staying central, and either holding it up or hitting the target at the earliest opportunity.</p><p><strong>Rashford has more promise but still poses problems.</strong></p><p>Rashford is as almost as prolific at supplying the final ball as he is finishing the move himself, with 39 career goals and 23 assists in Premier League and UEFA competitions.</p><p>Rashford was excellent as a teenager, thriving as Manchester United's sole striker, a responsibility bestowed upon him at the time by the former manager Louis Van Gaal.</p><p>But after the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Old Trafford, Rashford's form dipped when he was pushed to a wider role.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5da5da0ccc4a0a46ea30a48d-2000/gettyimages-1052207428.jpg" border="0" alt="Kane and Rashford" data-mce-source="Getty/Michael Regan" data-link="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/marcus-rashford-of-england-celebrates-as-he-scores-his-news-photo/1052207428?adppopup=true" /></div></div></div></p><p>When Ole Gunnar Solsjaer became manager around Christmas, 2018, shunning striker Romelu Lukaku in favor of Rashford, the young Englishman returned eight goals in a 13 game period. When Lukaku returned to the team in March and Rashford was moved back out wide, he managed just three for the rest of the season.</p><p>It is clear where Rashford plays his most effective soccer, but to play effectively at Barcelona he must play wherever Messi doesn't want to play - that could be out wide, or up front.</p><p>Any player who moves to the Camp Nou is expected to accommodate the world's best player. Suarez had to do it, and talented attackers before like David Villa and Thierry Henry had to do it before him.</p><p>Even Ibrahimovic had to do it, much to his own distaste.</p><p>"[Messi] went to [club manager Pep] Guardiola and said, 'I don't want to be on the right wing any more, I want to play in the center,'" the Swede said in his 2014 autobiography "I Am Zlatan."</p><p>He added: "I was the striker. Guardiola didn't give a damn about that, though. He changed the tactical formation. Guardiola had to listen to him."</p><p>Rashford will be no exception. Part of Suarez, Villa, and Henry's success at the club was because of their willingness to play secondary to Messi.</p><p>It's for the opposite reason why Ibrahimovic, and Alexis Sanchez struggled in Spain, and were ultimately offloaded.</p><p>Despite Rashford's talent, his inflexibility would see him suffer the same fate as Sanchez.</p><p>Barça needs someone who can play multiple positions when needed, in a a fluid front three. That someone just isn't Rashford.</p><h2>$275 million Mbappe is the one Barcelona should sign</h2><p>Barcelona wants a proven goalscorer who is equally capable of providing for its teammates, and happy to vacate a central role for a position further wide. That proven player is Mbappe.</p><p>"He's a phenomenon. He's clearly going to be the best player in the world in the future," former Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas said of Mbappe in September, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/phenomenon-mbappe-will-be-the-best-in-the-world-fabregas/srgyh4tevh93zy09iv5z7rky">according to Goal.</a></p><p>"If I had him in front of me I'd be giving him assists all the time because he's so fast, explosive, but he's also very clever in slipping his markers."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5ce7eb3eb8cb375b7c57ae94-2000/kylian mbappe transfer news.jpg" border="0" alt="Kylian Mbappe transfer news" data-mce-source="Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images" data-link="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/paris-saint-germains-french-forward-kylian-mbappe-news-photo/1138547433?adppopup=true" /></div></div></div></p><p>Mbappe has only played three seasons as a professional but he has delivered something more than the 77 goals and 35 assists he has provided in Ligue 1 and UEFA competitions.</p><p>Throughout his time at the Parc des Princes with PSG he has proven he can play both out wide and also centrally in a fluid front three - just as he would be expected to do at Barcelona.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/neymar-has-been-a-massive-waste-of-money-at-psg-2019-8?r=US&amp;IR=T">3 charts that show Neymar has been a massive waste of money at Paris Saint Germain</a></em></p><p>Mbappe's relationship with Edinson Cavani and Neymar has yielded great success for PSG with the trio, nicknamed "MCN," tallying a combined 161 goals in the past two seasons, whilst swapping positions at ease in a fluid frontline.</p><p>The triumvirate's relationship is not so different to Barcelona's own famous "MSN" trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar, who enjoyed a similar symbiosis between 2014-2017, managing an extraordinary 364 combined goals in all competitions at the time.</p><p>"They are certainly the best frontline that I've seen in my lifetime," <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/are-msn-the-best-strikeforce-in-football-history-times-writers-have-their-say-7ggzfzmjm">said Oliver Kay, formerly of The Times</a>, speaking about "MSN."</p><p>"No other combination comes close. It's not just the number of goals they score. It's the beguiling, beautiful, almost telepathic brilliance of their interplay."</p><p>The one constant in all of Barcelona's front threes over the years has been "M" - Messi.</p><p>The Argentine is showing no signs of slowing down, however at 32 years old, he is approaching the twilight of his career.</p><p>Mbappe may be eyed as a replacement for Suarez in the short term, but in the long run, it could be Messi he ends up replacing, in turn becoming the Spanish club's new "M", and the focal point of their attacking trio in the years that follow.</p><p><strong>Read more: </strong></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lionel-messi-signed-by-barcelona-on-paper-napkin-age-12-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The man who discovered 12-year-old Lionel Messi made him sign a contract on a paper napkin because he 'couldn't let him get away'</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cristiano-ronaldo-makes-more-money-from-instagram-than-juventus-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly makes more money being an influencer on Instagram than he does playing soccer for Juventus</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/few-players-at-manchester-united-actually-like-one-another-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">It seems there are only a few players at Manchester United who actually like one another after a failed dinner party where only 5 people showed up</a></p><p class="tagline">This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Business Insider.</p>

FC Barcelona has a shortlist of 3 high-profile players to replace Luis Suarez but 2 of them would be a massive waste of money

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/36108584.cms" /><br /> Cyber criminals are using names of famous footballers like <keyword id="18001" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Cristiano-Ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</keyword> and <keyword id="704" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Lionel-Messi">Lionel Messi</keyword> to lure people to malicious websites and infect their systems with <keyword id="54201" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Malware">malware</keyword>, the Internet security firm <keyword id="127849" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="McAfee">McAfee</keyword> said.<br />
<br /> McAfee has brought out a <keyword id="2297125" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Red-Card-Club">Red Card Club</keyword> list that features the top 11 players whose Web pages are believed to be risky to search online.<br />
<br />
Other names in the list include Iker Cassillas (Spain), Karim Ziani (Algeria), Karim Benzema (France), Paulinho (Brazil), Edinson Cavani (Uruguay), Fernando Torres (Spain), Eden Hazard (Belgium) and Gerard Pique (Spain).<br />
<br />
“As is common with other cultural sensations, cyber criminals leverage consumer interest in the world’s most popular sport to lure them to websites rigged with malware, malicious codes capable of infecting a user’s machine and stealing passwords and personal information,” said McAfee.<br />
<br />
Surfers are at risk when visiting sites that offer screensaver downloads and videos. Searching for Cristiano Ronaldo has more than 3.7% chance of landing on a malicious website.<br />
<br />
The 2014 FIFA World Cup will kick off in Brazil on June 12.<br />
<br />
McAfee has advised fans to be wary of content that prompts them to download anything. “Opt to watch streaming videos or download content from official websites of content providers,” it said. Free download is the highest virus-prone search term. So people looking to download need to be careful.<br />
<em>Image: Thinkstock</em><br />


Searching For Your Favourite
Soccer Star Online May Infect Your Computer

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5b3212611ae66222008b5432-2000/cristiano%20ronaldo.jpg" border="0" alt="Cristiano Ronaldo" data-mce-source="Reuters"><p class="source"><span>Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">Cristiano Ronaldo.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><ul><li><strong>Cristiano Ronaldo performed poorly in Portugal's final World Cup group game against Iran on Monday.</strong></li><li><strong>Portugal surrendered a 1-0 lead and eventually drew 1-1 to a side ranked 33 places below them in the world.</strong></li><li><strong>Ronaldo could have won the game had he scored a penalty - a goal that would have seen him match England striker Harry Kane's tally of five goals at the 2018 tournament in Russia.</strong></li><li><strong>But Ronaldo remains rooted to four and must now look to score against Uruguay - an international side renowned for its defensive ingenuity, and one that has kept its sheet clean for six matches in a row.</strong></li><li><strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/world-cup-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read all of Business Insider's World Cup coverage here.</a></strong></li></ul><hr><p><br>Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most competitive and determined athletes in sports - <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cristiano-ronaldo-reaction-to-losing-at-ping-pong-shows-his-competitiveness-2018-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">even former teammate, Patrice Evra, said so when he recently shared an intimate anecdote regarding the Portugal striker</a>.</br></p><p>It is therefore unlikely that anybody in the Portugal national soccer team will have woken up more annoyed than Ronaldo this morning.</p><p>The Real Madrid star missed a penalty kick, narrowly escaped a red card, and generally had a performance to forget as Portugal capitulated against Iran in a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/world-cup-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FIFA World Cup</a> group game on Monday.</p><p>Iran is&#xa0;ranked the <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">37th best international side</a> in the world, according to FIFA. (Portugal is ranked <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fourth</a>).</p><p>Ricardo Quaresma scored Portugal's only goal in the 45th minute - and even Ronaldo may begrudgingly admit it was a greater goal than any he had scored so far in this tournament.</p><p>With the outside of his boot, Quaresma smacked the ball into the goal from a great distance.</p><p><strong>Watch it here:</strong></p><p>But this isn't a story about Quaresma's screamer.</p><p>No, this is a story about Ronaldo - his squandered opportunity to equal Harry Kane's 2018 World Cup goals haul, the subsequent Portuguese failure to top a winnable Group B table, and how the striker may have screwed himself out of the coveted Golden Boot award, the prize given to the World Cup's top goalscorer.</p><h2>Ronaldo failed to do what he normally does best</h2><p>Iranian forward Karim Ansarifard canceled out Quaresma's goal late in Monday's match, scoring a 93rd minute penalty to bring the score to 1-1 - a result that meant Portugal finished second in the group, relinquishing top spot to Spain.</p><p>But the result, and the complexion of the group, could have been so different had Ronaldo done what Ronaldo usually does best - score.</p><p>Ronaldo failed to make an impression in the opposition box, though. He rarely touched the ball in the penalty area and was unable to sway the game in his, and Portugal's, favour.</p><p>With Portugal already leading 1-0, Ronaldo even had an opportunity to score from the spot, having won a penalty in the second half. He stepped up, struck the ball - and to everyone's surprise - was denied by Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5b321aa91ae6621a008b49ac-2000/cristiano%20ronaldo.png" border="0" alt="Cristiano Ronaldo" data-mce-source="Reuters"><p class="source"><span>Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">Ronaldo misses a penalty.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>Had Ronaldo scored that penalty, he would have extended his 2018 World Cup goals haul to five while simultaneously taking Portugal to the top of the Group B table.</p><p>But, alas, he remains rooted on four goals and is one behind top goalscorer Harry Kane (who has one game still to play), while Portugal slumped into second place.</p><p>The importance of first and second in Group B cannot be underestimated.</p><p>Spain, who finished top, takes on Russia in a Round of 16 knockout match on Sunday.</p><p>Portugal, who placed second, has the tougher match as it collides with Uruguay - a tough South American team that has won all of its World Cup matches so far.</p><p>More importantly perhaps for Ronaldo, is the fact that this is a match that will test his goalscoring skills to the limit.</p><p>This is because Uruguay is fortified by some of the best defenders in international soccer - <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/world-cup-the-best-players-so-far-2018-6#6-uruguay-defender-jos-gimnez-837-18" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of them, José Giménez, is the top-ranked defender in Business Insider's list of the 23 best soccer players at the 2018 World Cup so far</a>.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5b3220e91ae6621e008b56bd-2000/jose%20gimenez.jpg" border="0" alt="Jose Gimenez" data-mce-source="Reuters"><p class="source"><span>Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">José Giménez.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>In three 2018 World Cup group games, Uruguay is yet to concede a goal. Its defence will likely be tested by Ronaldo, but it is fully capable of flummoxing the 33-year-old.</p><p>As Reuters notes, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-worldcup-ury-rus-defense/uruguay-makes-case-for-defense-despite-attacking-riches-idUSKBN1JM0V5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the country's "sterling defensive work" has perhaps overshadowed the team's marquee striking talents</a> Edinson Cavani and Luis Suárez - two players who can torment Portugal this weekend and knock Ronaldo out of the tournament for good.</p><p>Uruguay currently is on a run of six clean sheets in a row, and Reuters says this underlines "the importance coach Oscar Tabarez places on defence, despite the attacking riches at his disposal."</p><p>Reuters adds that Ronaldo "may find Uruguay a tougher nut to crack than he has faced so far in the tournament."</p><p>And if he fails to crack it, he only has himself to blame.</p><p class="tagline">This is an <keyword id="6356002" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="opinion">opinion</keyword> column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author.</p><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/NuYZy7bhzwo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Only two touches in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IRN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IRN</a> penalty area for Ronaldo so far. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/POR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#POR</a> will need to get him a little more involved if they're to break Iran down.  <br><br>🖥 <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCOne?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BBCOne</a><br>💻 <a href="https://t.co/BazXoCDi1D">https://t.co/BazXoCDi1D</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bbcworldcup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bbcworldcup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/worldcup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#worldcup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IRN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IRN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/POR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#POR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IRNPOR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IRNPOR</a> <a href="https://t.co/LqS2rkHPqZ">pic.twitter.com/LqS2rkHPqZ</a></br></br></br></p>- Match of the Day  (@BBCMOTD) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1011318192797601793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2018</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/supercross-race-million-monster-energy-marvin-musquin-jason-anderson-eli-tomac-las-vegas-motocross-2018-6">This controversial Supercross star has 20 minutes to make $1 million</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/Wycj2mbf-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div></hr>

A disastrous display from Cristiano Ronaldo against Iran may have screwed him out of the World Cup top goalscorer award

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5bbb96eb8053830c8e4320f4-1287/lionel-messi.jpg" border="0" alt="Lionel Messi" data-mce-source="Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images"><p class="source"><span>Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">France football has released the list of 30 players in contention for the 2018 Ballon d'Or.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Each year, France Football awards its most prestigious trophy - the Ballon d'Or - to the world's best men's soccer player.</li><li>Throughout the day on Monday, France Football released the list of 30 players in consideration for the 2018 Ballon d'Or, including Barcelona's Lionel Messi, Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo, and Paris St. Germain's Neymar.</li><li>France Football also unveiled the 15-person shortlist for its first-ever women's Ballon d'Or Monday afternoon.</li></ul><p><br>Each year, France Football awards its most prestigious trophy - the Ballon d'Or - to the world's best men's soccer player. The organization revealed the 30 players in contention for the 2018 Ballon d'Or throughout the day Monday, and many of the biggest names in soccer have made the list.</br></p><p>Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has taken the trophy home in each of the last two years, but Portugal's early departure from the World Cup combined with his rocky start with new club Juventus and the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cristiano-ronaldo-rape-allegations-kathryn-mayorga-2018-10">recent rape allegations levied against him</a> could doom his chances at a three-peat.</p><p>&#xa0;</p><p>Lionel Messi - who also has five Ballons d'Or - could reclaim the honor for the first time since 2015, but his inability to lead Argentina to success at the World Cup has undoubtedly dampened his chances.</p><p>&#xa0;</p><p>Likewise, Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar is an unlikely pick to break through to win his first Ballon d'Or this year due to his international performances. Brazil failed to live up to expectations for the 2018 World Cup, falling to Belgium in a major quarterfinal upset.</p><p>&#xa0;</p><p>The favorite to win the 2018 Ballon d'Or, however, is midfielder Luka Modric. The Real Madrid veteran captained Croatia to its first ever World Cup final, after which he earned&#xa0;the Golden Ball as the best player in the tournament. Modric has already earned FIFA World Player of the Year honors and is widely expected to add the Ballon d'Or to his collection of awards after posting an absolutely stellar year. Messi and Ronaldo have had a monopoly on the Ballon d'Or for the past decade, but Modric may be the man to end their collective reign.</p><p>&#xa0;</p><p>France Football also released the shortlist of players nominated to receive the first-ever women's Ballon d'Or, which includes five-time&#xa0;<span>FIFA World Player of the Year winner Marta, Australian blackflipper and&#xa0;all-time NWSL leading scorer Sam Kerr, and U.S. Women's National Team captain Megan Rapinoe</span>. Lyon dominated with seven of fifteen nominees playing for the club.</p><p>Check out the complete list of men's and women's Ballon d'Or nominees:</p><h3><strong>Men's nominees:</strong></h3><div>Sergio Agüero&#xa0;(ARG / Manchester City)</div><div>Alisson&#xa0;(BRE / Liverpool)</div><div>Gareth Bale&#xa0;(GAL / Real Madrid)</div><div>Karim Benzema&#xa0;(FRA / Real Madrid)</div><div>Edinson Cavani&#xa0;(URU / PSG)</div><div>Thibaut Courtois&#xa0;(BEL / Chelsea)</div><div>Cristiano Ronaldo&#xa0;(POR / Juventus Turin)</div><div>Kevin De Bruyne&#xa0;(BEL / Manchester City)</div><div>Roberto Firmino&#xa0;(BRE / Liverpool)</div><div>Diego Godin&#xa0;(URU / Atlético Madrid)</div><div>Antoine Griezmann&#xa0;(FRA / Atlético Madrid)</div><div>Eden Hazard&#xa0;(BEL / Chelsea)</div><div>Isco&#xa0;(ESP / Real Madrid)</div><div>Harry Kane&#xa0;(ANG / Tottenham)</div><div>N'Golo Kanté&#xa0;(FRA / Chelsea)</div><div>Hugo Lloris&#xa0;(FRA / Tottenham)</div><div>Mario Mandzukic&#xa0;(CRO / Juventus Turin)</div><div>Sadio Mané&#xa0;(SEN / Liverpool)</div><div>Marcelo&#xa0;(BRE / Real Madrid)</div><div>Kylian Mbappé&#xa0;(FRA / PSG)</div><div>Lionel Messi&#xa0;(ARG / FC Barcelone)</div><div>Luka Modric&#xa0;(CRO / Real Madrid)</div><div>Neymar&#xa0;(BRA / PSG)</div><div>Jan Oblak&#xa0;(SLO / Atlético Madrid)</div><div>Paul Pogba&#xa0;(FRA / Manchester United)</div><div>Ivan Rakitic&#xa0;(CRO / FC Barcelone)</div><div>Mohamed Salah&#xa0;(EGY / Liverpool)</div><div>Sergio Ramos&#xa0;(ESP / Real Madrid)</div><div>Luis Suarez&#xa0;(URU / FC Barcelone)</div><div>Raphaël Varane&#xa0;(FRA / Real Madrid)</div><div><div><div><div></div></div></div></div><h3><strong>Women's nominees:</strong></h3><div>Lucy Bronze (ENG / Lyon)</div><div>Pernille Harder (DEN / Wolfsburg)</div><div>Ada Hegerberg (NOR / Lyon)</div><div>Amandine Henry (FRA / Lyon)</div><div>Lindsey Horan (USA / Portland)</div><div>Sam Kerr (AUS / Chicago)</div><div>Fran Kirby (ENG / Chelsea)</div><div>Saki Kumagai (JPN / Lyon)</div><div>Dzsenifer Marozsan (GER / Lyon)</div><div>Amel Majri (FRA / Lyon)</div><div>Marta (BRA / Orlando)</div><div>Lieke Martens (NED / Barcelona)</div><div>Megan Rapinoe (USA / Seattle)</div><div>Wendie Renard (FRA / Lyon)</div><div>Christine Sinclair (CAN / Portland)</div><div></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>7/30<br><br>👌 <a href="https://twitter.com/Cristiano?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cristiano</a><br>🇵🇹 Portugal<br>⚽ Forward<br>📍 <a href="https://twitter.com/juventusfc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@juventusfc</a><br>3⃣3⃣ years old<br>🏆 5-time winner (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)<br><br>The nominees ▶ <a href="https://t.co/PuSb2n2x5Z">https://t.co/PuSb2n2x5Z</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ballondor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ballondor</a> <a href="https://t.co/FFFctI1IZQ">pic.twitter.com/FFFctI1IZQ</a></br></br></br></br></br></br></br></br></br></p>- #ballondor  (@francefootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1049240988911357952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2018</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>21/30<br><br>👌 Lionel Messi<br>🇦🇷 Argentina<br>⚽ Forward<br>📍 <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCBarcelona</a><br>3⃣1⃣ years old<br>🏆 5-times winner (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015)<br><br>The nominees ▶ <a href="https://t.co/97jAzy0DYQ">https://t.co/97jAzy0DYQ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ballondor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ballondor</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZCS6t1xAOp">pic.twitter.com/ZCS6t1xAOp</a></br></br></br></br></br></br></br></br></br></p>- #ballondor  (@francefootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1049344188507193345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2018</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>23/30<br><br>👌 <a href="https://twitter.com/neymarjr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@neymarjr</a><br>🇧🇷 Brazil<br>⚽ Forward<br>📍 <a href="https://twitter.com/PSG_inside?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PSG_inside</a><br>2⃣6⃣ years old<br><br>The nominees ▶ <a href="https://t.co/tQyB9Jlx2u">https://t.co/tQyB9Jlx2u</a>  <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ballondor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ballondor</a> <a href="https://t.co/1oRqY0Oq3M">pic.twitter.com/1oRqY0Oq3M</a></br></br></br></br></br></br></br></br></p>- #ballondor  (@francefootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1049348207543824384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2018</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>22/30<br><br>👌 Luka Modric<br>🇭🇷 Croatia<br>⚽ Midfielder<br>📍 <a href="https://twitter.com/realmadrid?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realmadrid</a><br>3⃣3⃣ years old<br><br>The nominees ▶ <a href="https://t.co/y3VLt9O2WY">https://t.co/y3VLt9O2WY</a>  <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ballondor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ballondor</a> <a href="https://t.co/jf1GUMylt9">pic.twitter.com/jf1GUMylt9</a></br></br></br></br></br></br></br></br></p>- #ballondor  (@francefootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1049346786811400192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2018</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chrissy-teigens-trainer-reveals-workout-secrets-2018-9">Chrissy Teigen's trainer reveals her workout secrets</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/xMZEECq1-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" 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The 2018 Ballon d'Or nominees have been revealed

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5395dfd4ecad04a553952136-1200-600/lionel-messi-14.jpg" border="0" alt="Lionel Messi" /><p class="source"><span>Reuters</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>Lionel Messi of Argentina is the betting favorite for top goalscorer at the World Cup in Brazil <a href="http://sports.bovada.lv/sports-betting/world-cup-player-props.jsp">according to odds at Bovada.lv</a>.</p>
<p>Messi is followed by his Barcelona teammate Neymar (Brazil) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) who plays professionally for Barcelona's top rival, Real Madrid, in Spain's La Liga.</p>
<p>Here are the odds for the top 20 players:</p>
<ol>
<li>Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 7/1</li>
<li>Neymar (Brazil) -10/1</li>
<li>Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) -12/1</li>
<li>Sergio Aguero (Argentina) -14/1</li>
<li>Luis Suarez (Uruguay) -18/1</li>
<li>Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina) -20/1</li>
<li>Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) -22/1</li>
<li>Fred (Brazil) -25/1</li>
<li>Karim Benzema (France) -25/1</li>
<li>Robin Van Persie (Netherlands) -25/1</li>
<li>Thomas Muller (Germany) -25/1</li>
<li>Diego Costa (Spain) -28/1</li>
<li>Edinson Cavani (Uruguay) -33/1</li>
<li>Hulk (Brazil) -33/1</li>
<li>Mario Balotelli (Italy) -33/1</li>
<li>Miroslav Klose (Germany) -33/1</li>
<li>Fernando Torres (Spain) -40/1</li>
<li>Jo (Brazil) -40/1</li>
<li>Olivier Giroud (France) -40/1</li>
<li>Wayne Rooney (England) -40/1</li>
</ol>
<p>To be the top goalscorer at the World Cup, a player must not only be great, but it helps if he plays for a team that is expected to go deep into the tournament.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/world-cup-favorites-2014-4">Brazil and Argentina are the two top favorites to win the Tournament</a>. The two favorites to be the top goalscorer are from those countries as well as five of the top eight favorites.</p>
<p>That is also why there are no Americans in the top 40.</p>
<p>Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore are both 150/1 to be the top goalscorer in the tournament.</p>

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