For the first time since 2003, neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo are on the Ballon d’Or nominees list, signaling the end of an era in football dominance.
For the first time since 2003, both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are absent from the Ballon d’Or nominees list, signaling a major shift in the football landscape.
Messi, an eight-time winner, and Ronaldo, who has claimed five Ballon d’Ors, have dominated the competition for nearly two decades, winning it 13 times between them from 2008 onward. Their absence marks the end of an era.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or list, released on Wednesday, features 30 players, including rising stars like Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappé.
Haaland and Kane, who dominated their respective leagues in goal scoring, are strong contenders, while Mbappé’s high-profile move to Real Madrid this summer has placed him firmly in the spotlight.
Bellingham and Vinicius also played key roles in Real Madrid’s success, helping the club win LaLiga and its 16th Champions League title last season.
Messi, 37, who won the award in 2023, has recently been recovering from injury with his current club, Inter Miami.
Despite his continued brilliance, the Argentine icon is not among the nominees this year, marking a new chapter in football’s elite competition.
On the women’s side, the U.S. Olympic gold-winning team has five players nominated, including captain Lindsey Horan and forward Sophia Smith.
Spain, following their 2023 World Cup triumph, has five players in contention, including reigning Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí and two-time winner Alexia Putellas. England, the World Cup runners-up, also has three players nominated.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winners will be announced on October 28, and the absence of Messi and Ronaldo only adds intrigue to what will be an exciting new chapter for world football.
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