Modric and Varane lead Ballon d'Or chase

The announcement of the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner is less than a fortnight away and two Real Madrid stars are in with a chance of lifting football's most coveted individual prize. Luka Modric and Raphael Varane are both reported to be in with a chance of winning the accolade, with Atlético Madrid's Antoine Griezmann also in the running. Voting for the award has now closed and the winner will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on December 3. Modric has always been a front-runner thanks to a superb year which has seen him win the UEFA Men's Player of the Year gong and FIFA's The Best accolade. Lifting the Ballon d'Or would cap a hat-trick of individual awards for the Croatian midfielder. Varane's edge could be winning the World Cup with France, along with Griezmann, although Modric is said to be the front-runner despite a dip in form since helping his country to runners-up at the World Cup in Russia. Reports in France have suggested France Football, who run the award, have been in Madrid to film with the winners - suggesting Modric, Varane and Griezmann are the three players in the top-three. In France, Radio Europe 1 reported that it will be Modric who wins the award ahead of his teammate Varane and countryman Kylian Mbappe.