For the first time since 2003, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have not been included in the list of nominees for the Ballon d’Or award.
Messi, who has won the award a record eight times, and Ronaldo, who has won it five times, were not among the 30 players nominated for this year’s award. The winner will be announced on October 28.
Top Nominees for 2024 Ballon d’Or
Some of the key names nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or include:
- Vinicius Junior
- Rodri
- Jude Bellingham
- Kylian Mbappé
- Erling Haaland
- Harry Kane
Vinicius and Bellingham both played a big part in helping Real Madrid win LaLiga and their 16th Champions League title last season. Haaland was the top scorer in the Premier League, while Kane led in goals for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
Earlier this summer, Mbappé made his long-awaited move to Real Madrid after six seasons with PSG.
Messi’s Ballon d’Or History
Messi, now 37 years old, won the Ballon d’Or last year and his first in 2009. This was the beginning of his four-year streak of winning the award. He was first nominated in 2006.
Messi and Ronaldo dominated the Ballon d’Or competition during their peak years, winning the award 13 times between them from 2008 onwards. Ronaldo first appeared on the list of nominees in 2004.
READ MORE: Top 5 Celebrities Who Carried the Paris Olympics 2024 torch
Women’s Ballon d’Or Nominees
On the women’s side, five players from the U.S. have been nominated:
- Lindsey Horan (Captain and Midfielder)
- Alyssa Naeher (Goalkeeper)
- Trinity Rodman (Forward)
- Sophia Smith (Forward)
- Mallory Swanson (Forward)
These players helped the U.S. win the gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in women’s soccer.
Spain has also nominated five players:
- Aitana Bonmatí
- Mariona Caldentey
- Patri Guijarro
- Salma Paralluelo
- Alexia Putellas
Spain finished fourth at the 2024 Olympics, one year after winning the World Cup. Spanish players have won the award for the past three years, including Alexia Putellas twice and Aitana Bonmatí last year.
England, which lost to Spain in the 2023 World Cup final, has three nominees: Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, and Lucy Bronze.
READ MORE:
