Ballon d’Or Nominations : Ronaldo And Messi Excluded From List Of Nominees For The First Time In Over Two Decades

For the first time in over two decades, football legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are missing from the Ballon d’Or nominations. This marks a significant shift in football history, as both players have been synonymous with the prestigious award for years.

Messi, who won the Ballon d’Or a record 8 times, including last year, is now playing for Inter Miami in the United States, where he recently led the club to their first trophy. Ronaldo, a 5-time Ballon d’Or winner, currently plays for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.

Ronaldo first won the award in 2008 while playing for Manchester United, and to this day, remains the last Premier League player to have claimed the honor. Messi’s first win came in 2009, and he was a Ballon d’Or nominee for an astounding 16 consecutive years.

The 2023 Ballon d’Or nominees reflect the rise of a new generation of stars. England has six players on the list: Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Harry Kane, Phil Foden, and Declan Rice. Bellingham earned his spot due to his stellar debut season with Real Madrid, and his contribution to England’s journey to the Euro 2024 final.

Similarly, Spain, the reigning Euro 2024 champions, has six nominees: Rodri, Dani Carvajal, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, and Alejandro Grimaldo. Other notable contenders include Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland, all of whom are favorites for this year’s award. Emiliano Martinez, who won the Golden Glove at the FIFA World Cup 2022, also made the list.

Here’s the full list of the 30 nominees for the 2023 Ballon d’Or:

1. Jude Bellingham
2. Vinicius Junior
3. Rodri
4. Dani Carvajal
5. Bukayo Saka
6. Ruben Dias
7. William Saliba
8. Fede Valverde
9. Cole Palmer
10. Lamine Yamal
11. Erling Haaland
12. Kylian Mbappé
13. Toni Kroos
14. Martin Odegaard
15. Emiliano Martinez
16. Granit Xhaka
17. Artem Dovbyk
18. Harry Kane
19. Mats Hummels
20. Hakan Calhanoglu
21. Nico Williams
22. Phil Foden
23. Florian Wirtz
24. Dani Olmo
25. Declan Rice
26. Vitinha
27. Ademola Lookman
28. Lautaro Martinez
29. Alejandro Grimaldo
30. Antonio Rudiger

This marks a transition in the football world, as younger stars take the spotlight in the competition for football’s most prestigious individual prize.