For the first time in two decades, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, two of the most iconic figures in soccer, have been omitted from the nominations for the Ballon d’Or, the sport’s highest individual honor. This marks the first time since 2003 that neither Messi, an eight-time winner, nor Ronaldo, a five-time winner, will be in contention for the prestigious award.
On Wednesday, the 30-player nomination list was revealed without either of the legends. In their place, a new wave of talent is vying for the award, including the likes of Vinicius Junior, Rodri, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane.
Messi, who departed European soccer last year to join Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS), continues to perform at an elite level, recently helping Argentina capture the Copa America title in July. However, despite his success, Messi will not be defending his Ballon d’Or title this year, having bested Manchester City’s Erling Haaland for the honor in 2022. Messi first claimed the award in 2009, beginning an unprecedented four-year winning streak.
Ronaldo, who was first nominated for the Ballon d’Or in 2004, similarly misses the cut. During their prime, the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry defined the Ballon d’Or landscape, with the two players dominating the competition from 2008, winning the award a combined 13 times over a 15-year period.
As Messi and Ronaldo take a step back from the spotlight, a new generation of players looks to fill the void. Among the emerging talents, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Bellingham, Manchester City’s Rodri, and Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland are among the favorites for this year’s award. Rising Spanish star Lamine Yamal also earned a nomination, further highlighting the shift in soccer’s hierarchy.
Messi was previously excluded from the Ballon d’Or list in 2022 but returned to the top after guiding Argentina to a World Cup victory, claiming his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023. Now, with his career winding down and playing in MLS, Messi may find it challenging to fend off his younger counterparts as they rise to claim soccer’s most coveted individual prize.
On the women’s side, Aitana Bonmati, who won the award last year, is nominated once again. U.S. stars Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Alyssa Naeher, and Lindsey Horan also made the list of 30 female contenders.
The winners of the Ballon d’Or are determined by a jury of soccer journalists from around the world, with the award itself created by France Football magazine. Since its inception in 1956, the Ballon d’Or has been claimed by many of the game’s most legendary figures, including Eusébio, George Best, Johan Cruyff, and Zinédine Zidane.
