Having left the European stage for careers in USA and Saudi Arabia, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have missed the shortlist of the Ballon D’or nominees for the first time in over two decades. (AP)
For the first time since 2003, Neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi – who share a total of 13 Ballon D’ors between them – were nominated among the shortlisted 30 candidates for the prestigious annual award in 2024.
Argentina’s World Cup winning captain Messi has won it more than any other player (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023) while Portuguese talisman Ronaldo has won the award five times (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017). Messi was named winner for the eighth time last year after he led Argentina to their third World Cup triumph in late 2022.
Between them, Messi and Ronaldo had shared the individual honor for 10 years in a row before Luka Modric broke their combined streak in 2018.
For 2024, France Football announced the list on Wednesday, including names such as Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Dani Olmo.
Real Madrid, who won the Champions League and La Liga last season, had more candidates in the final 30 than any other club.
Six players from the Spanish squad that won the Euros this summer were named in the final 30, including Rodri, Alejandro Grimaldo, and Dani Carvajal other than Yamal, Williams and Olmo.
While England, who were the runners-up, had Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden among the finalists, other than Bellingham.
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