The duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi are out of the Ballon d’Or nominees for the first time since 2003.
The Genius Media Nigeria reports that the 2024 Ballon d’Or Awards have served as a stark reminder that the era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, two giants who have dominated world football for nearly two decades, is drawing to a close.
For years, these two legends had the sport in a firm grip, as evidenced by their near-monopoly of the Ballon d’Or from 2008 to 2018, with only Luka Modric briefly breaking their stranglehold on the prestigious award.
Messi, Ronaldo miss out on Ballon d’Or nomination
Messi, in particular, cemented his legacy as the most decorated player in the history of the Ballon d’Or, adding three more titles after 2018 to bring his total to eight, per Sporting News.
However, the time has come for a new chapter, as this year’s Ballon d’Or will be awarded to someone outside the iconic duo for the first time since 2003.
End of an era for GOAT pair
This marks a significant shift in football history. For the first time in over two decades, neither Messi nor Ronaldo has been nominated for the award, underscoring the fact that both players, now well into their 30s, are nearing the twilight of their illustrious careers, per Bleacher Report. As the next generation of stars rises, Messi and Ronaldo will either be watching the ceremony from the audience at the Théâtre du Châtelet or from the comfort of their homes, witnessing the crowning of a new king in world football.
This transition signals the end of an era that has seen two players redefine the sport with their extraordinary talent and relentless rivalry. The 2024 Ballon d’Or will not only recognise a new individual as the best footballer on the planet but will also mark the beginning of a new era in the beautiful game.
Men’s award shortlist in full
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
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