In a surprising development, the 2024 Ballon d’Or nominations exclude Cristiano Ronaldo, Kevin de Bruyne, and Lionel Messi. This marks the first time since 2003 that both football legends have been absent from the list.
This year’s nominees feature a mix of rising stars and established players from various teams.
Nominee Overview
Here is the table of nominees for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, along with their respective teams and countries:
Player | Team | Country |
---|---|---|
Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid | England |
Kylian Mbappe | Real Madrid | France |
Vinicius Junior | Real Madrid | Brazil |
Dani Carvajal | Real Madrid | Spain |
Rodri | Manchester City | Spain |
Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | Spain |
Nico Williams | Athletic Bilbao | Spain |
Alejandro Grimaldo | Benfica | Spain |
Dani Olmo | RB Leipzig | Spain |
Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | England |
Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | England |
Declan Rice | Arsenal | England |
Cole Palmer | Manchester City | England |
Phil Foden | Manchester City | England |
Absentees
Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time winner, and Lionel Messi, with eight awards, are both missing from the list.
Ronaldo was also absent from last year’s nominations. Messi, despite leading Argentina to Copa America victory this year and having been nominated 16 times, did not make the cut.
Historical Context
Spain, which won Euro 2024, has six players nominated, highlighting their strong performance throughout the year.
Despite their achievements, no Spaniard has won the Ballon d’Or since Luis Suarez in 1960. Rodri, named player of the tournament at Euro 2024, has expressed that Spanish football deserves a Ballon d’Or winner, reflecting the sentiment of many fans.
Women’s Ballon d’Or Nominees
In the women’s Ballon d’Or Féminin, Barcelona has six nominees, including Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony will unfold on October 28 in Paris, drawing the football world’s attention to see who will be crowned the best player of the year.