Lionel Messi will not be in contention for another Ballon d'Or this year, having been omitted from the list of nominees announced by the organizers on Wednesday. This comes as a significant number of players from Spain's Euro 2024-winning team and Real Madrid's Champions League victors dominate the nominations. Messi secured his eighth Ballon d'Or in his illustrious career last year. Now at the age of 37, he is not among the 30 candidates this time around, despite Argentina's Copa America victory in July.
The former Barcelona icon, who is now plying his trade in the MLS with Inter Miami, was also absent from the nominees in 2022 when Karim Benzema claimed the award. However, Messi made a triumphant return to win the accolade last year, leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar. The most esteemed individual prize in football is decided by a panel of journalists from the top 100 countries in FIFA's world rankings. The Ballon d'Or ceremony is scheduled to be held in Paris on October 28.
Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior is among the frontrunners and is one of six Real Madrid players nominated, having won both La Liga and the Champions League last season. The other Madrid nominees include Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Toni Kroos, Antonio Ruediger, and Fede Valverde, while Kylian Mbappe, who recently moved from Paris Saint-Germain to Real, is also in the running. Carvajal is joined by Alejandro Grimaldo, Dani Olmo, Rodri, Nico Williams, and Lamine Yamal as contenders from the victorious Spain team.
Manchester City's Norwegian sensation Erling Haaland and England and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane are also on the list, but there is no spot for five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who is now 39. Xabi Alonso, who led Bayer Leverkusen to an undefeated Bundesliga season, is among the favorites for the best coach award. His competitors include Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti and Spain's Luis de la Fuente. Meanwhile, Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona and Spain will be aiming to retain the women's Ballon d'Or. Former winners Ada Hegerberg and Alexia Putellas are also nominated, along with five members of the United States' Olympic gold medal-winning team: Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, Lindsey Horan, and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
