The end of the calendar year is fast approaching, meaning talk over who is going to win the 2018 Ballon d'Or is starting to increase.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated the award in the past decade.

The two have won an incredible five awards each in that time frame, with Ronaldo matching Messi's tally last year.

Having been a focal point as Real Madrid won their third consecutive Champions League title in May, Ronaldo is well placed to win his sixth Ballon d'Or later this year and overtake his great rival.

But will he actually win it? The 33-year-old will have great competition this year, with the likes of Messi, Mohamed Salah and Luka Modric all in the running.

Kaka, the last player outside of Ronaldo and Messi to win the award, has now picked his two candidates to win.

The 36-year-old has actually gone against Ronaldo and Messi to win, instead picking Modric and Kylian Mbappe as his two favourites.

"Modric has had some impressive results, winning the Champions League and being able to play the World Cup final," he said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, per AS. "He is the man who creates the show and commands the game."

And on Mbappe, he said: "Mbappé is very strong and has a whole career ahead of him. Let the future be yours."

Interesting. So the former Real Madrid star doesn't believe Ronaldo or Messi are deserving of the award this season.

Modric and Mbappe, however, would be worthy winners.

Modric was part of the Real Madrid side that won their third consecutive Champions League, and he was then named Golden Ball winner in Croatia's run to the World Cup final.

Mbappe was France's top performer in their World Cup triumph, in a year where he has announced himself as the most talented youngster in world football.

Although he snubbed Ronaldo, Kaka did have some nice words to say about his former teammates' move to Juventus.

"For Italian football it's great to have it, it brings visibility, sponsors, media interest around the world," he said about Ronaldo's summer move. "Cristiano brings many things to the Italian soccer system as a whole, not just for Juventus.

And Kaka believes that Juventus are one of the favourites for the Champions League with Ronaldo among their ranks.

"With Cristiano he is one of the favourites," he said. "But there is always Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​the PSG that is getting stronger with Mbappé that is maturing".

Who do you think should win the Ballon d'Or? Have your say by leaving a comment below.