Messi and Ronaldo Snubbed from Ballon d’Or Nominations After Two Decades of Dominance

After dominating for two decades, Messi and Ronaldo were left out of the Ballon d’Or nominations.

Football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have not been included in the Ballon d’Or nomination list since 2003, which represents a dramatic change in the worldwide football hierarchy. The two icons who have together won 15 Ballon d’Or trophies in the previous 21 years—including an unbroken run from 2008 to 2017—are not included on the 2024 list, which was unveiled on Wednesday.
Ronaldo, who last took home the trophy in 2017, was likewise not considered for 2023. Messi was the 2023 Ballon d’Or winner, therefore it is more unexpected that he was left out. Both players currently play in leagues that are regarded as less competitive on a worldwide scale, despite their sustained great performances—Messi with 12 goals and 10 assists in 12 matches for Inter Miami CF and Ronaldo with 35 goals in the 2023–24 season. Ronaldo is a player in Saudi Arabia’s Pro League (rated 33rd), whereas Messi plays in Major League Soccer, which is ranked 12th in the world.

Their exclusion from the 2024 nominations underscores the increasing impact of younger players in the elite European leagues and maybe signals the beginning of the end for the Messi and Ronaldo era. On October 28th in Paris, the 2024 Ballon d’Or will be given out, and it’s probable that a new wave of football talent will take center stage.

Image credit