In 2007, Kaka won the Ballon d'Or while Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi finished 2nd and 3rd. Every year since then, the Ballon d'Or has been won by either Ronaldo or Messi with the other player finishing 2nd. But who has finished third, fourth and fifth behind them?

Antonio Conte believes N'Golo Kante is more deserving of Ballon d'Or consideration than Eden Hazard.

Kante finished eighth in the Ballon d'Or vote, which was the highest of any Premier League player.

“For sure [Hazard] is a fantastic player, he is important, but at the same time I tell you that to win the Ballon d’Or you have to win, and in your career you have to win a lot,” Conte said. “For [this year’s winner] Cristiano Ronaldo it’s the fifth time, like Messi. It means that in the last 10 years it didn’t change, two players, three players, because also there is Neymar.”

Conte has previously described Hazard as being in the world’s top three players.

onte praised Kanté but said the midfielder’s skill-set means the former Leicester player is unlikely to win football’s prestigious individual prize, awarded by France Football magazine and selected by journalists. “When I was a player I wanted to win the Ballon d’Or but I knew my characteristics, I knew that it was impossible,” Conte said. “But I won a lot in my career. I won everything. I don’t know if Kanté can win the Ballon d’Or in his life because of the characteristics of this player. He doesn’t score a lot of goals. He is a great worker.

“For me as a coach Kanté has to win, but in reality it would be very difficult. Paolo Maldini never won but he was the best defender in the world. Gianluigi Buffon never won, he was the best goalkeeper in the world for many years. But this is the story of the Ballon d’Or.

“You have to respect it is a particular classification.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the 2017 Ballon d'Or.

Ronaldo also won the award last year, four out of the past five years and five times during his career.

Lionel Messi finished second while Neymar finished third. Gianluigi Buffon, Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos, Kylian Mbappe, N'Golo Kante, Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane rounded out the top-10.

Diego Valeri of the Portland Timbers has been named MVP of Major League Soccer for the 2017 season.

"To be recognized for your effort on the field, it's always nice," Valeri said. "MLS has a lot of great players. I never expected this."

Valeri beat out New York City FC's David Villa, Toronto FC's Sebastian Giovinco, Atlanta United's Miguel Almiron and the Chicago Fire's Nemanja Nikolic to win the award.

Valeri recorded a career-high 21 goals and added 11 assists to become just the second player in MLS history to record at least 20 goals and 10 assists in a single season.