The Ballon d’Or pays tribute to the best player of the past year and competition is fierce. Sportsmail takes a look at those nominated and how their performances have compared over the year.

No trophies are handed out in December but one of football's biggest personal accolades is about to go on the line in Paris. Here Sportsmail gives you a lowdown to the 2017 Ballon d'Or.

The Ballon d'Or is awarded to the best player applying his trade in Europe, but is often considered the ultimate prize on a personal level for any footballer.

For anyone who has played it, FIFA is serious business. Be it between friends or relatives, a bad result or dodgy decision can bring the worst out of people. And even for Mario Balotelli, this is no different.

If Egypt are to succeed at their first World Cup since 1990, it looks crucial that they get Mo Salah fit. The Liverpool forward remains a doubt after a shoulder injury suffered in the Champions League final. 

Sportsmail provide you with everything you need to know for the World Cup 2018 clash Senegal vs Colombia including how to watch, kick-off time, squads, stats and latest odds.

ROB DRAPER AT THE SPARTAK STADIUM: A game England largely dominated, which ebbed and flowed fascinatingly in extra time, ultimately came down to the one thing England can’t do.

Thierry Henry finally secured his first win as Monaco head coach after Radamel Falcao's free-kick earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory at fellow Ligue 1 strugglers Caen.

Most footballers eye a career in coaching or punditry after hanging up their boots but Radamel Falcao is planning to go against the trend by turning his hand to baseball. 

Rangers assistant boss Gary McAllister hopes missing out on a Copa America slot will finally convince Alfredo Morelos to clean up his act. The striker has bagged 29 goals this season.

Radamel Falcao bagged the winner on his Galatasaray debut against Kasimpasa on Friday night. The 33-year-old scored the only goal of the game as the Turkish champions won 1-0.

An estimated 17.2 million Americans will not make it into work hours after Kansas City Chiefs beat San Franscisco 49ers 30-21 in Super Bowl LIV in Miami.

G-Eazy - who's real name is Gerald Earl Gillum - took things one step further when he shared a shot of Megan's leggy ensemble to his own page with a slew of hearts to follow.

The 23-year-old defensive tackle will pay the adoption fees for every dog currently at KC Pet Project shelters in Kansas City, Missouri.

A fan who was caught snoozing during the first quarter of the Super Bowl on Sunday has been identified as Teneo chairman and CEO Declan Kelly.

The Hustlers star, who was flanked by fiance Alex Rodriguez, 44, clarified that the sentiment the performance was a smash was not coming from her directly, but had come from other people.

Corrections officers confiscated the large stash of contraband booze made from fruit and juice that was hidden in trash cans at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California, on Saturday.

The 24-year-old blatantly wrote that she's 'not f***ing' the Bay Area-born lyricist even after he posted a video of what appeared to be the pair making out following a wild night of shots and dancing.

Alex Rodriguez failed to complete the Renegade TikTok challenge with his teen daughter, Natasha, 15, in his first video on the platform on Tuesday.

Harvey Weinstein hosted a party at the Manhattan apartment where he is staying during his trial on Sunday, before appearing to fall asleep in court on Monday as actress Jessica Mann testified.

Yo Gotti was just one celeb in attendance as West and his Sunday Service Choir performed some of his own hits, including Jesus Walks and a gospel version of Can't Tell Me Nothing.

The 44-year-old former New York Yankees star revealed Monday that watching fiancee Jennifer Lopez perform during the Super Bowl was 'more nervous than any baseball game I've ever played'.

He's carved out an illustrious acting career in Australia, but one of Peter Phelps' earliest roles was on the US TV series Baywatch.

Due to be held in front of the Bellagio Hotel, this life-changing event with a distinct gameshow aura will instead be held virtually. The best bit? It'll be unlike anything we've ever seen before.

Vera Zinger was pulled over in Barangaroo on November 29 and police searched her car where they allegedly found two grams of drugs and $2,150 in cash.

NSW Health is looking into expanding testing to those even with the mildest symptoms in a bid to further flatten the curve of the deadly virus.

DOMINIC LAWSON: As so often in her 68-year reign, the Queen gets it right. In her statement to the country on meeting the challenge of the coronavirus, she did not once use the word 'war'.

Prince William, 37, revealed Princess Charlotte, 4, 'loves unicorns' and declared the mythical creatures were 'very cool' during a royal visit to Harcombe House in Devon yesterday

Actress Michelle Dockery, 37, heaped praise on Kate Middleton, 38, as she recalled the royal's visit to the Downton Abbey set in 2015, as she appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Hidden away by vast woodland and situated in Geres, the mansion - which includes a landing pad - was purchased for close to £3.5m seven years ago by the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Ronaldo scored the 700th goal of his career from the penalty spot in Portugal's 2-1 defeat against Ukraine on Monday - the sixth player in the history of football to reach that incredible landmark.

The scramble for Euro 2020 places comes to its conclusion this week as the final international fixtures of the year are played out across the continent.

Renato Sanches must have truly felt on top of the world after Portugal lifted the Euro 2016 trophy. But an assent to the lofty heights of the game can often be followed by a plummet to the bottom.

Chris Smalling has outlined his desire to win a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad, despite not having been capped for his country since 2017.

Take a look at Jerome Sinclair's social media accounts, and you won't find out much. No tweets since 2017, and all of his profile pictures are black. In a way, it is a sad reflection of his struggles.

DOMINIC KING AT GOODISON PARK: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave his unequivocal support to David De Gea as he described Manchester United's No1 as the 'world's best goalkeeper'.

Daniel Sturridge has left Turkish club Trabzonspor because he has been suspended from all football-related activity worldwide until the middle of June following an appeal by the FA

Gareth Southgate is giving serious consideration to handing Phil Foden a first England call-up this month. The teenager shone in front of England assistant Steve Holland at Wembley.

Since the shambolic viewings four years ago, England have started to assemble a side capable of going all the way and Southgate deserves credit for putting faith in the next generation.

EXCLUSIVE BY MATT HUGHES: The FA face multi-million pound losses if they are forced to cancel games or stage them behind closed doors due to the coronavirus crisis.

The announcement of all public activities being restricted or completely shut down until March 29 include the expectation that international friendlies at the end of the month will be cancelled.

EXCLUSIVE BY DOMINIC KING: Phil Neville is considering his future and could be set to end his two-year spell in charge of England's women.

UEFA announced plans on Tuesday to move this month's international fixtures, suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, to the early June international slots, subject to review.

Liverpool defender Alexander-Arnold effortlessly caressed the ball across his garden into his garden lounger while Lingard punted the ball into a black bin from an elevated position.

Three Lions fans may not be able to cheer on their manager and players in the Euros this summer but they can take a trip down memory lane to summer of '96 via the ITV Hub and ITV 4.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher and Chelsea centre-back John Terry played together when they were both on international duty for England between 2003 and 2010.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Having given up £1million of his salary, England manager Gareth Southgate must have been rather surprised to end up as the villain on Sunday.

It's Hot or Not time again as Sportsmail's Riath Al-Samarrai reveals what's been making him feel warm and what's been leaving him cold this week.

ON THE ROAD - ADAM SHERGOLD: Ronnie Radford's famous goal for Hereford in 1972 is generally considered a great football moment. But not in the Cumbrian town of Barrow-in-Furness.

EXCLUSIVE: Allan Saint-Maximin's future at Newcastle is in doubt after Steve Bruce dropped him for Saturday's goalless draw with Burnley, citing a hamstring injury.