OFFICIAL: Two Manchester City players nominated for Ballon D'Or award

It's very clear that Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Agüero have been the best Manchester City players throughout 2016, and they've gotten some pretty big recognition for it.

The two City stars have been included in the 30-man shortlist for the 2016 Ballon D'Or Awards, which recognizes the best footballer in each calendar year. Magazine France Football and FIFA used to give out this award together, but they've parted ways a few months ago, and the Ballon D'Or once again belongs solely to France Football, which means that only journalists chosen by the magazine will be voting on the award instead of the ridiculous FIFA process, which gave coaches and captains from every country in the world a vote, which always meant Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo winning.

France Football voters actually watch football, and their choices over the years have been a more accurate reflection of the actual best players from each year. There won't be a three-man shortlist anymore, and the winner will be announced in December, not during a January Gala.

It's very difficult to see Agüero or De Bruyne winning, but given their performances during the year, it's totally fair to see them nominated among the 30 best footballers in 2016.

This is the full list of BDO nominees, which includes seven Premier League players:

Sergio Agüero, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gareth Bale, Gianluigi Buffon, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kevin De Bruyne, Paulo Dybala, Diego Godín, Antoine Griezmann, Gonzalo Higuain, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andrés Iniesta, Koke, Toni Kroos, Robert Lewandowski, Hugo Lloris, Riyad Mahrez, Lionel Messi, Luka Modric, Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer, Neymar, Dimitri Payet, Pepe, Paul Pogba, Rui Patricio, Sergio Ramos, Luis Suárez, Jamie Vardy, Arturo Vidal

Who do you think deserves to win the Ballon D'Or this year? Comment away!