On Wednesday, organizers France Football magazine unveiled the nominees for the prestigious Ballon d’Or trophy, and it was no surprise that Argentina’s superstar forward, Lionel Messi, was among the contenders. Messi, a seven-time recipient of the Ballon d’Or, now plays for Inter Miami and played a pivotal role in leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar last December, marking their first World Cup victory since 1986.
Remarkably, this year’s nominations did not include Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who has previously clinched the award on five occasions. This marks the first time in two decades that Ronaldo has not received a Ballon d’Or nomination.
Joining the list of nominees is Manchester City’s prolific striker, Erling Haaland, who claimed the UEFA award for the best men’s player last season. Additionally, Paris St Germain’s electrifying forward, Kylian Mbappe, is also in contention for the prestigious honor.
In the women’s category, it’s noteworthy that Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas, the reigning two-time winner of the award, did not receive a nomination this year. Instead, Chelsea’s dynamic duo, Sam Kerr and Millie Bright, were among the 30 female nominees. Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona, who played a crucial role in Spain’s World Cup triumph last month, is also among the nominees.
The highly anticipated awards for the best men’s and women’s players in the world will be presented on October 30th, marking a significant occasion for football enthusiasts worldwide.
