PARIS: In a recent turn of events, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are not named among the candidates for the men’s Ballon d’Or this year. It is the first time since 2003 that both players are not on the roster. Argentina’s Messi recently won his eighth Ballon d’Or and despite winning the UEFA Champions League top scorer award, Ronaldo was not included among the nominees. Captain Al Nassr was on the list continuously from 2004 to 2022. This is his second year without being nominated for the award. It is worth noting that Messi has led his team to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup and has been nominated 16 times. He missed out despite his team winning the Copa America this year. The final list of Ballon d’Or candidates was published on Wednesday, with England’s Jude Bellingham among the 30 named players. Euro 2024 winners Spain have six players nominated, including Barcelona winger Lamin Yamal, along with Nico Williams, Alejandro Grimaldo, Dani Olmo, Rodrigo and Dani Carvajal, who also won the Champions League with Real Madrid. Real have a total of seven players on their shortlist, including Kylian Mbappe, who recently signed from Paris St Germain, with Bellingham and Brazilian Vinicius Junior among the Spanish club’s other nominees. England, runners-up to Spain at Euro 2024, have five other nominees in addition to Bellingham: Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden. In the women’s Ballon d’Or, Barcelona have a total of six nominations, including last year’s winner Aitana Bonmati and two-time winner Alexia Putellas. Meanwhile, the most anticipated ceremony is about to crown the most deserving player on October 28 in Paris.
