For the first time in nearly two decades, Lionel Messi’s name is absent from the list of nominees for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award. The legendary footballer, who recently led Argentina to Copa America victory, has been a constant presence among the nominees since 2005. Similarly, Cristiano Ronaldo, his long-time rival, was notably absent from the list last year, ending his streak of continuous nominations since 2003.
The exclusion of both Messi and Ronaldo from the 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees marks a significant milestone, signaling the beginning of the end of an era dominated by these two football giants. Their rivalry has captivated fans for generations, but their absence from the list suggests a shift towards a new era in football.
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On Wednesday, the list of 30 contenders for the prestigious award was revealed. Notably, Cristiano Ronaldo’s name was not included, which was not entirely unexpected given his absence from last year’s nominations and his underwhelming performance in the recent European Championship. His subdued role in the tournament and previous snub made his exclusion from the listless surprising.
Contrary to expectations, Lionel Messi’s name was surprisingly omitted from the list, despite his recent Copa America victory with Argentina, which typically would have solidified his spot. His move to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer didn’t seem to impact his chances, but ultimately, he won’t extend his streak to 19 consecutive nominations, a remarkable run that ends this year for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo hold the top two spots for the most Ballon d’Or wins in history, with Messi leading the way with seven titles (2009-2012, 2015, 2019, and 2021) and Ronaldo following closely with five (2008, 2013-2014, 2016-2017). The third position is tied between two football legends, Michael Platini (1983-1985) and Johan Cruyff (1971, 1973-1974), each with three Ballon d’Or awards to their name.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees feature a mix of familiar and rising stars, including Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), and Kylian Mbappe (PSG/Real Madrid). Notably absent is current holder and eight-time winner Lionel Messi, who plays for Inter Miami. Vinicius Jr is considered the top contender for the award. The complete list of nominees for the 2024 Ballon d’Or includes:
1. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
2. Phil Foden (Manchester City)
3. Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
4. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
5. Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
6. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
7. Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
8. Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen)
9. Artem Dovbik (Roma)
10.Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
11.Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
12.Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig/Barcelona)
13.Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
14.Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
15.Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
16.Rodri (Manchester City)
17.Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
18.Declan Rice (Arsenal)
19.Vitinha (PSG)
20.Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
21.Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
22.Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
23.Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
24.Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan)
25.William Saliba (Arsenal)
26.Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
27.Ademola Lookman (Atalanta) NIGERIA
28.Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
29.Kylian Mbappe (PSG/Real Madrid)
30.Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
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