The Ballon d’Or Nominations Are Out and It’s a Shocker!
The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees have been revealed, and it’s left many fans scratching their heads. Lionel Messi, who won the award last year, has been snubbed, along with his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo. The list of nominees is packed with talented players, but some notable absentees have left many questioning the criteria for selection.
The Shocking Omissions
Lionel Messi, who won the award last year, has been left out of the running, despite his heroics in guiding Argentina to a third World Cup title. Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 44 goals in all competitions for Al Nassr last season, is also absent from the list. Kevin De Bruyne, who helped Manchester City win an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title, has also been left out.
The Favorites
However, some of the usual suspects have made the cut. Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri is a leading contender, having helped his club win the Premier League title and leading Spain to a Euro 2024 triumph. Real Madrid duo Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham are also among the favorites, having played a key role in the club’s La Liga and Champions League double win.
The Complete List of Nominees
Here is the full list of nominees:
Antonio Rudiger – Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid
Lautaro Martinez – Inter
Ademola Lookman – Atalanta
Alejandro Grimaldo – Bayer Leverkusen
Dani Carvajal – Real Madrid
William Saliba – Arsenal
Lamine Yamal – Barcelona
Bukayo Saka – Arsenal
Hakan Calhanoglu – Inter
Rodri – Man City
Declan Rice – Arsenal
Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
Cole Palmer – Chelsea
Vitinha – PSG
Vinicius Jr – Real Madrid
Martin Odegaard – Arsenal
Dani Olmo – Barcelona
Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen
Mats Hummels – Roma
Erling Haaland – Man City
Nicolas Williams – Athletic Bilbao
Granit Xhaka – Bayer Leverkusen
Artem Dovbik – Roma
Toni Kroos – Real Madrid
Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid
Phil Foden – Man City
Ruben Dias – Man City
Federico Valverde – Real Madrid
Emiliano Martinez – Aston Villa
The Criteria
The Ballon d’Or award is voted on by 100 journalists from around the world, who take into account individual performance, decisiveness and impressiveness, collective performance and track record, and class and fair play. The winner will be announced on October 28 at a special ceremony in Paris.
What Do You Think?
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