For the first time in 21 years, neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi are among the nominees for the prestigious Ballon d’Or, marking the end of an era dominated by the two football legends. The announcement, which included a list of 30 nominees for the 2024 award, has shifted the spotlight to a new generation of talent, with Spanish players standing out following their triumph in Euro 2024.
They’re all here!
But… who should win it? #ballondor pic.twitter.com/SrkHBrJtuI
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 4, 2024
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, missed the list for the second consecutive year, while Messi, who claimed his record eighth title in 2023, was not nominated despite Argentina’s recent Copa America victory. This marks a significant shift in global football, with both icons absent from the award for the first time since 2003.
Spain’s national team, fresh off their European Championship win, dominated the nominations, with six players making the cut. Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, along with fellow countrymen Nico Williams, Alejandro Grimaldo, Dani Olmo, Rodri, and Dani Carvajal, were all named. Rodri, who was pivotal in Spain’s campaign and was named the player of the tournament, expressed pride in the country’s achievement, stating, “Spanish football deserves a Ballon d’Or winner.”
Rodri also highlighted Spain’s perfect run in the tournament, where they won all seven games and scored 15 goals — the highest by any team in a European Championship. Despite Spain’s dominance in the past two decades, no Spaniard has won the Ballon d’Or since Barcelona legend Luis Suárez in 1960, even during the era of Spain’s “golden generation,” which saw them win the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 Euros.
Real Madrid leads the club nominations, with seven players named, including Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior. Bellingham, one of the brightest talents from England, joins a list of six other nominees from the Euro 2024 runners-up, including Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, and Phil Foden.
In the women’s category, the Ballon d’Or Feminin, Barcelona once again led the nominations, with six players recognized, including last year’s winner Aitana Bonmatí and two-time winner Alexia Putellas.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony is set to take place on October 28 in Paris, where football’s top players will be honored, and a new era of talent will take center stage in the absence of Messi and Ronaldo.
