Messi and Ronaldo Miss Ballon d’Or Nominations After Domination

For the first time in 20 years, neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or award.

The two football icons, who have dominated the award for over a decade, were absent from the list of 30 nominees released ahead of the award ceremony set for October 28.

End of an Era

Messi, a record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, and Ronaldo, with five titles, have been ever-present in the nominations since 2003.

This marks the end of an era where their rivalry shaped the sport, with the duo winning the award a combined 13 times since 2008.

Messi won his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 and last claimed the title in 2022.

Ronaldo was first nominated in 2004.

Men’s Ballon d’Or nominees

1. Jude Bellingham (England and Real Madrid)
2. Ruben Dias (Portugal and Manchester City)
3. Phil Foden (England and Manchester City)
4. Federico Valverde (Uruguay and Real Madrid)
5. Emiliano Martinez (Argentina and Aston Villa)
6. Cole Palmer (England and Chelsea)
7. Erling Haaland (Norway and Manchester City)
8. Ademola Lookman (Nigeria and Atalanta)
9. Nico Williams (Spain and Athletic Bilbao)
10. Granit Xhaka (Switzerland and Bayer Leverkusen)
11. Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine and Roma)
12. Toni Kroos (former Germany and Real Madrid)
13. Vinicius Jr (Brazil and Real Madrid)
14. Dani Olmo (Spain and Barcelona)
15. Florian Wirtz (Germany and Bayer Leverkusen)
16. Martin Odegaard (Norway and Arsenal)
17. Mats Hummels (Germany, free agent)
18. Rodri (Spain and Manchester City)
19. Harry Kane (England and Bayern Munich)
20. Declan Rice (England and Arsenal)
21. Vitinha (Portugal and Paris St-Germain)
22. Dani Carvajal (Spain and Real Madrid)
23. Lamine Yamal (Spain and Barcelona)
24. Bukayo Saka (England and Arsenal)
25. Hakan Calhanoglu (Turkey and Inter Milan)
26. William Saliba (France and Arsenal)
27. Kylian Mbappe (France and Real Madrid)
28. Lautaro Martinez (Argentina and Inter Milan)
29. Antonio Rudiger (Germany and Real Madrid)
30. Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain and Bayer Leverkusen)

Women’s Ballon d’Or

1. Aitana Bonmati (Spain and Barcelona)
2. Barbra Banda (Zambia and Orlando Pride)
3. Tarciane (Brazil and Houston Dash)
4. Lauren Hemp (England and Manchester City)
5. Trinity Rodman (United States and Washington Spirit)
6. Ada Hegerberg (Norway and Lyon)
7. Manuela Giugliano (Italy and Roma)
8. Mallory Swanson (United States and Chicago Red Stars)
9. Glodis Viggosdottir (Iceland and Bayern Munich)
10. Mariona Caldentey (Spain and Arsenal)
11. Lauren James (England and Chelsea)
12. Lea Schuller (Germany and Bayern Munich)
13. Patricia Guijarro (Spain and Barcelona)
14. Gabi Portilho (Brazil and Corinthians)
15. Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi and Lyon)
16. Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway and Barcelona)
17. Lindsey Horan (United States and Lyon)
18. Sjoeke Nusken (Germany and Chelsea)
19. Yui Hasegawa (Japan and Manchester City)
20. Lucy Bronze (England and Chelsea)
21. Salma Paralluelo (Spain and Barcelona)
22. Giulia Gwinn (Germany and Bayern Munich)
23. Khadija Shaw (Jamaica and Manchester City)
24. Grace Geyoro (France and Paris St-Germain)
25. Alexia Putellas (Spain and Barcelona)
26. Sophia Smith (United States and Portland Thorns)
27. Ewa Pajor (Poland and Barcelona)
28. Alyssa Naeher (United States and Chicago Red Stars)
29. Mayra Ramirez (Colombia and Chelsea)
30. Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France and Paris St-Germain)

Kopa Trophy nominees

1. Pau Cubarsi – (Spain and Barcelona)
2. Alejandro Garnacho – (Argentina and Manchester United)
3. Lamine Yamal – (Spain and Barcelona)
4. Arda Guler – (Turkey and Real Madrid)
5. Karim Konate – (Cote d’Ivoire and Salzburg)
6. Kobbie Mainoo – (England and Manchester United)
7. Joao Neyes – (Portugal and PSG)
8. Savinho Oliveira – (Brazil and Manchester City)
9. Mathys Tel – (France and Bayern Munich)
10. Warren Zaire-Emery – (France and PSG)