The 25-year-old was part of France’s World Cup winning team, scoring a goal in the final against Croatia.
And there were seven Frenchmen named on the list after helping Les Bleus win their second World Cup in Russia this summer. Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante and Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris are in contention, as is Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe.
Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann and Real Madrid’s Champions League-winning duo Raphael Varane and Karim Benzema make up the French contenders.
But Pogba, who has hinted at a desire to leave United this season, says he is not deserving of the accolade.
“Whether it’s Grizou (Griezmann), Kylian (Mbappe) or Raph’ (Varane), they deserve it much more than me,” Pogba told AFP.
“I can not designate one. But I hope with all my heart that this is one of the three. One of the four also because there is NG (Kante). That’s all I hope for anyway, because there are many who deserve it. I do not put myself in.”
Every Ballon d’Or since 2008 has been won by either Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi and the pair are both among the favourites again this year. The bookmakers though have made Croatia star Luka Modric odds on to win the award with Ronaldo the second favourite.
Griezmann is the third favourite, followed by Mbappe and Messi. The 2018 Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place in Paris on December 3.
Alisson Liverpool
Gareth Bale Real Madrid
Karim Benzema Real Madrid
Kevin de Bruyne Manchester City
Edinson Cavani Paris St-Germain
Thibaut Courtois Real Madrid
Roberto Firmino Liverpool
Diego Godin Atletico Madrid
Antoine Griezmann Atletico Madrid
Eden Hazard Chelsea
Isco Real Madrid
Harry Kane Tottenham
N’Golo Kante Chelsea
Hugo Lloris Tottenham
Mario Mandzukic Juventus
Sadio Mane Liverpool
Marcelo Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe Paris St-Germain
Lionel Messi Barcelona
Luka Modric Real Madrid
Neymar Paris St-Germain
Jan Oblak Atletico Madrid
Paul Pogba Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo Juventus
Ivan Rakitic Barcelona
Sergio Ramos Real Madrid
Mohamed Salah Liverpool
Luis Suarez Barcelona
Raphael Varane Real Madrid