No Messi, Ronaldo! Ballon d’Or to have first-time winner

Ballon d’Or 2024 is going to be very different from all the previous seasons of the prestigious award since 2003. This time, after over two decades we will have none of the two GOATs – Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo contesting for the best player men’s award.

After dominating the European football scenario for over 20 years, Messi and Ronaldo have left the glamorous podium to play in the top divisions of the USA and Saudi Arabia respectively. So, the decision of France Football to not shortlist the two legends in the top 30 names was not surprising to many.

Lionel Messi, the best ever to play football, has clinched the individual honour for the most time (eight) in history. Cristiano Ronaldo, another best player, has been second in the list after Messi, with five Ballon d’Ors. Of the two, Ronaldo won it for the first time in 2008, while Messi bagged it in 2009. CR7 was nominated first in 2004, while Messi was in 2006. Leo was last year’s champion too.

No one in the 30 men list has won the Ballon d’Or previously

The list also ensures the fact that the world is going to see a first-time winner bagging this illustrious trophy, as the only two other playing footballers to win the Ballon d’Or, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric have also not been included in the list.

This year’s list, as revealed yesterday, celebrates the young, prolific, and sensational superstars of the new era of football. Among the 30 nominees, the obvious names as expected were Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland, often termed as the next bigs of world football.

The list hails seven players from Real Madrid, which stands pretty obvious after their fantabulous season, where they clinched both La Liga and Champions League. The list has four players from Manchester City, who also had a good season.

Also Read: 7 surprising goalkeepers Lionel Messi hasn’t managed to score against