30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mahez are in battle with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Co

Leicester City’s fairytale has continued with their two standout performers recognised now on the global stage.

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez catapulted the Foxes to a maiden Premier League title – in undoubtedly the story of last season.

And consequently their feats have seen them rubbing shoulders with the very best footballers on the planet after making the cut for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

Vardy, who scored 24 goals in a historic season for the Foxes, was named on a 30-man list of nominees for the prestigious award, which is currently held by Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

France Football, the sole organisers of the prize given to the best footballer in the world following a split from FIFA, revealed Vardy was in contention in a tweet published on Monday evening.

The Sheffield-born player is the only Englishman nominated, while Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale represents Wales after his heroics at Euro 2016.

It’s been another stellar calendar year for Cristiano Ronaldo and the superstar’s feats have seen him named on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or too.

The Portuguese forward has made the 30-man cut for the prestigious award – which heralds the greatest player of the past 12 months.

He was among the first batch of nominees to be announced by France Football – with all 30 revealed throughout Monday.

The 31-year-old has shone for club and country in 2016 – scoring the winning penalty as Real Madrid won the Champions League in May before captaining Portugal to their first European Championship two months later.

Real’s No 7 is joined by his perennial rival Messi – with the pair having held a duopoly on the coveted gong since 2008.

While Messi didn’t enjoy the success that Ronaldo had last season, he did win La Liga with Barcelona and led Argentina to the Copa America final.

Meanwhile Ronaldo is joined by Real team-mate Bale on the shortlist – with the 26-year-old also shining on the club and international stage.

As well as his role in guiding Real to their 11th European Cup, the forward inspired Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

Aside from the dynamic duo there is Premier League representation in the form of Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne.

Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is included alongside team-mate Paul Pogba, who won a domestic double with former club Juventus and also helped France reach the European Championship final in the summer.

Pogba’s national team-mate Hugo Lloris is also included on the 30-strong shortlist. The Frenchman almost led his country to Euro 2016 glory and helped Tottenham achieve Champions League qualification last season.

West Ham golden boy Dimitri Payet is in the running for the coveted trophy after a sparkling first season in the Premier League, while Antoine Griezmann makes up the quartet of Frenchman nominated.

This year’s Ballon d’Or is judged solely by a panel of journalists after FIFA and France Football parted ways.

In 2010 they merged to form the FIFA Ballon d’Or, a combination of the previous Fifa World Player of the Year prize with the French publication’s prestigious individual prize, but now that is no more.

BALLON D’OR SHORTLIST