For the first time since 2003, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have not been nominated for the Ballon d’Or. Messi, an eight-time winner, and Ronaldo, a five-time winner, are absent from this year’s list.
Messi, who won the Ballon d’Or last year while playing for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), is currently recovering from an injury with Inter Miami. Ronaldo, who recently joined Al-Nassr after a long stint at Manchester United and then Al-Ittihad, didn’t the cut this year.
The 30-player shortlist features notable names including Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, and Vinícius Júnior. The winner will be announced on October 28.
On the women’s side, five U.S. stars have been nominated following their Olympic gold medal win. The list includes captain Lindsey Horan, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, and forwards Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson.
Earlier this summer, Mbappé completed his much-anticipated transfer to Real Madrid after six seasons with PSG. Messi’s first Ballon d’Or win came in 2009, initiating a dominant four-year streak. Ronaldo and Messi’s rivalry defined the award for over a decade, with the two players combining for 13 wins from 2008.
