FILE – Argentina’s Lionel Messi during the Copa America semifinal against Canada in East Rutherford, New Jersey, July 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)
Lionel Messi is considered by many to be the greatest soccer player of all time, but the Argentine star was left off the list of nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or award, the sport’s highest individual honour.
The trophy-holder, who has won the award a record eight times, was not named Wednesday on the list of 30 nominees for the award, which will be presented on Oct. 28.
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Also absent was Messi’s biggest rival, five-time champion Cristiano Ronaldo, marking the first time since 2003 that neither player has made the list.
Read: Injured Messi to miss World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia
Among the nominees are Vinicius Junior, Rodri, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane.
Messi left European football last year when he moved from Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami but has continued to perform at a high level and helped Argentina win the Copa America in July. The 37-year-old beat Manchester City striker Haaland to the award last year but is unable to defend his title.
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Messi first won the Ballon d’Or in 2009 and went on to win the top prize four years in a row.
He was first nominated in 2006.
Messi and Ronaldo were almost neck and neck in the competition at the height of their careers, winning it a combined 13 times since 2008.
Ronaldo was first nominated in 2004.
Read: Ronaldo says retirement wasn’t a ‘difficult decision’
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after failing to score during the quarterfinal match between Portugal and France of the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, July 5, 2024. (AP/Martin Meissner)
Their absence from the shortlist is likely due to Ronaldo’s departure from top European club football, in part to his move to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
A new generation of talent has emerged, including Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Bellingham and Haaland, while Spain’s rising teenage star Lamine Yamal has also been nominated.
Last year, City striker Haaland came second to Messi but this time around the likes of Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Bellingham, along with City and Spain midfielder Rodri, are the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or.
Messi was not on the list for 2022 either, but he helped lead Argentina to victory in the World Cup later that year and went on to win his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023.
But now that he’s nearing the end of his career and playing in MLS, it may be tougher for him to thwart challenges from younger rivals for the game’s biggest title.
It’s also worth noting that he was not selected despite winning international honours with Argentina this year.
Last year’s women’s winner Aitana Bommati has been nominated again, while US stars Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Alyssa Naher and Lindsey Horan are also on the list of 30 nominees.
The award is voted for by a jury of men’s and women’s football journalists.
Founded by France Football magazine, the Ballon d’Or was first awarded in 1956 to England great Stanley Matthews.
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Past winners include footballing legends such as Eusebio, Bobby Charlton, George Best, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane.
