The 2018 Ballon d'Or award will be presented in around a month's time.

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric is currently the favourite for the accolade after swooping the FIFA Best award.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the second favourite, while Lionel Messi isn't really considered a contender this time around.

There is also the school of thought that a member of France's World Cup winning side should win the award.

Rapahel Varane, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe are the three members of Les Bleus' squad who are most likely to win.

Varane was the only player in the world to lift both the Champions League and the World Cup.

And France legend Thierry Henry says it would be a shame if a French player isn't presented with the award.

However, he did name one man who he believes is deserving of the award outside of Didier Deschamps' squad.

"I think it would be a shame if a French player does not win the Ballon d'Or, apart from Eden Hazard because he was extraordinary at every Wold Cup match - defensively and on the counter-attack," he said, per Sky Sports News.

"But logically, a French player should win. Why not Varane? He won the Champions League, he was very strong.

"There is the alien (extra-terrestrial) Kylian Mbappe, and also Antoine Griezmann. But I can also mention many players."

Henry also spoke glowingly about Mbappe, who has been likened to the Arsenal legend.

"We have a star. He is an outstanding player and let's be happy that he is in France," Henry added.

"I would have liked him to still be here at Monaco. The match (against PSG, this weekend) would have been easier for us.

"What can you say about Kylian Mbappe? Everyone talks about his dribbling, but I have always talked about his game intelligence at his age. I have rarely seen that."