Breaking: Messi and Ronaldo Snubbed from Ballon D’or Shortlist – What’s Next?
The Ballon D’or has been the pinnacle of individual success in football, and for the first time since 2003, none of the usual suspects are in the running. You guessed it – neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo has made the cut.
Both Messi and Ronaldo have etched their names in history with an impressive total of 13 Ballon D’or awards between them. Messi has dominated the award, winning it an astonishing eight times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023). Ronaldo, meanwhile, has five Ballon D’or awards under his belt (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017).
The lack of superstars on the shortlist has sparked a buzz around the football world. Some fans are left wondering how this has happened. Perhaps the World Cup win, though historic, hasn’t quite resonated as a reason for Messi to reclaim the top spot.
French Football’s announcement on Wednesday has thrown up some fascinating names, including Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Dani Olmo. The list is more competitive than ever, and each of these players has made a strong case for winning the coveted award.
With Real Madrid boasting more finalists (6) than any other club, it’s not surprising to see so many Galacticos vying for the top spot. Meanwhile, England’s under-21 squad had three players (Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice) making the cut.
With this new era of contenders, we can expect intense competition and thrilling moments ahead. Will one of the usual suspects make a stunning comeback? Or will one of these new-blood candidates snatch the award?
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