France manager Didier Deschamps has highlighted Antoine Griezmann as one among the potential candidates who could compete for the Ballon d’Or crown. The Atletico Madrid star was one among the many standout performers for Les Bleus during the recent World Cup and Deschamps believes the marksman should come at least close to the prestigious accolade.

Speaking to L’Equipe, he said: “He's a potential candidate for the Ballon d'Or, yes, he deserves it. It's not just him, but he deserves it. The Ballon d'Or, that would be a very good thing.We've seen so many times, there are two who are still there... Come on, even three, you have Messi, Ronaldo with everything they represent in the world and what they do. Neymar too, even if he arrives behind.”

Croatia international Dejan Lovren believes Luka Modric would have been vying for the Ballon d’Or title if he had come from one of Germany or Spain. The Real Madrid star has been a consistent performer for club and country over the years and he has already contributed a couple of goals for Croatia during the ongoing World Cup in Russia.

As such, his compatriot Lovren has praised his qualities and feels he would be in contention for the Ballon d’Or, had he come from a better-recognised country like Germany or Spain, he said: “Modric would probably be getting more attention than he is right now if he was a German or Spanish player. He would maybe even be a Ballon d’Or winner. But because we are a smaller country, he does get less attention than he deserves. We are all football lovers and we know Modric is an incredible player.”

Argentina international Pablo Zabaleta believes compatriot Lionel Messi has improved as a footballer despite failing to win the Ballon d’Or over the past couple of years. The Barcelona forward won his fifth Ballon d’Or title back in 2015 and he has watched Cristiano Ronaldo claim accolade since then.

In a report covered by Goal.com, Zabaleta hailed the qualities of his countryman and feels the forward has made significant progress in recent seasons, he said: “Messi today is much better than when he won the five Ballon d’Or awards. He’s a unique player, a type of player that we’ll probably never see again. “Seeing him develop is something that’s difficult to believe.”

England manager Gareth Southgate believes that his players are now playing without any fear. He said that this fear factor has been a major stumbling block for past generation of England players and he feels that his current side is playing more freely.

He said that his current generation of England players enjoys having the ball and that they are not afraid to provoke the opposition. He said that he has enjoyed the game against the Netherlands and this showed the maturity of the players. He said that the England players played with great composure and showed a good tactical control of the game. Gareth Southgate said that the best thing of all is that the players seem to be enjoying themselves on the pitch and this showed in the manner that they control the game and create opportunities.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has tipped Kevin de Bruyne to compete for the 2018 Ballon d'Or after his exceptional performances in the Citizens shirt this season. The 26-year-old has evolved into a world-class midfielder under the tutelage of Guardiola, and he recently provided a hat-trick of assists during his side's 5-1 win over Leicester City in the Premier League.

Following the game, Guardiola was asked whether the Belgian could win the prestigious Ballon d'Or, and he admitted that it is a possibility, if the midfielder goes on to lift titles with the club this term, he said: "No doubt. He is not (just doing it in) one game. It’s the whole season, every three days playing that way. But he knows and everyone knows, to be there you have to win titles - and titles and titles, especially one. But the way he’s played it’s difficult to find one (better) in Europe."