The Ballon d’Or shortlist does not feature either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time in 21 years. There will be a new winner of one of world football’s biggest individual prizes later this year with several former winners excluded from the nominations.
Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the Ballon d’Or for the best part of two decades, with no other player winning it between 2008 and 2017. In 2018, after shining at the World Cup with Croatia, Luka Modric became the first player other than Messi and Ronaldo to win it in 11 years.
Karim Benzema has since scooped the prize, being named the world’s best player in 2022, but Messi reclaimed his crown in 2023 after winning the World Cup with Argentina. That was the eighth time the Barcelona icon had received the award.
But football is now passing the baton to a new generation. Ronaldo failed to win a nomination last year, marking the first year since 2006 that the shortlist did not include both players.
However, despite another international tournament with Argentina at the Copa America, Messi has also been excluded from the shortlist this year. It is the first time since 2003 that neither of them has received a nomination.
Messi’s positive start to life with Inter Miami has not been enough to earn him a place on the shortlist. Ronaldo has not featured since he swapped European football for the riches of Saudi Arabia, where he plays for Pro League club Al-Nassr.
Instead, 2024’s shortlist includes some of world football’s best up and coming stars. Players who will hope to emulate the dominance at the top of the sport enjoyed by Messi and Ronaldo.
Ten Premier League players are shortlisted, with Erling Haaland one of the favourites to claim the prize on October 28. The Norweigan’s Manchester City team-mates Rodri, Phil Foden and Ruben Dias have been nominated alongside him.
Arsenal also have four representatives included in the shortlist, with Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, William Saliba and Martin Odegaard named. Chelsea attacker Cole Palmer and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez are also in contention.
In total, 30 players have been shortlisted. Among the foreign-based talent is England star Jude Bellingham, who enjoyed a memorable debut campaign at Real Madrid. Former Everton winger Ademola Lookman is also included for the first time after shining for Atalanta, for whom he scored a hat-trick in their Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
The full list of nominees can be found by clicking here.
