For the first time in over two decades, football greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will not feature in the Ballon d’Or nominations.
Messi has won this prestigious award a record 8 times, including last year. The Portuguese superstar has received the award 5 times.
Ronaldo currently plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, while Messi is in the United States, playing for Inter Miami, where he helped the club lift their maiden trophy.
Ronaldo won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 while playing for Manchester United, and he still holds the record as the last Premier League player to claim the top prize. Messi won his first in 2009 and was nominated for 16 consecutive years.
Among the list of 30 players, six from England have been nominated: Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Harry Kane, Phil Foden, and Declan Rice. Bellingham earned his nomination due to his exceptional debut campaign with Real Madrid, as well as helping England reach the Euro 2024 final.
There are also six players from Euro 2024 champions Spain: Rodri, Dani Carvajal, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, and Alejandro Grimaldo. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior is another favorite to win the award, alongside Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
The Golden Glove winner of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Emiliano Martinez, has also made the list.
The 30 players nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or are:
Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Rodri, Dani Carvajal, Bukayo Saka, Ruben Dias, William Saliba, Fede Valverde, Cole Palmer, Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Toni Kroos, Martin Odegaard, Emiliano Martinez, Granit Xhaka, Artem Dovbyk, Harry Kane, Mats Hummels, Hakan Calhanoglu, Nico Williams, Phil Foden, Florian Wirtz, Dani Olmo, Declan Rice, Vitinha, Ademola Lookman, Lautaro Martinez, Alejandro Grimaldo, and Antonio Rudiger.