Lionel Messi, hailed by many as the best soccer participant in historical past, was notably absent from this 12 months’s Ballon d’Or nominations – the game’s most coveted particular person accolade.
Despite being a file eight-time winner and reigning champion, the Argentina star was not among the many 30 contenders introduced Wednesday, with the award set to be introduced Oct. 28.
Also excluded was Messi’s longtime rival, five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo. It was the primary time since 2003 that neither participant made the listing.
Vinicius Junior, Rodri, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane are among the many nominees.
Messi, who left European soccer when he moved from Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami final 12 months, remains to be acting at a excessive degree and helped Argentina win the Copa America in July.
The 37-year-old beat Manchester City striker Haaland to the award final 12 months however is not going to defend his title.
Messi received his first Ballon d’Or in 2009, the beginning of a four-year streak taking the highest prize. He was first nominated in 2006.
Messi and Ronaldo turned the competitors right into a close to two-way contest in the course of the peak of their careers, successful it a mixed 13 occasions since 2008. Ronaldo’s first nomination got here in 2004.
Their omission from the listing of nominees is probably going on account of their strikes away from top-flight European membership soccer, with Ronaldo having joined Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
A brand new technology of expertise has emerged, together with Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Bellingham, and Haaland. Emerging teenage star Lamine Yamal of Spain was additionally nominated.
While City striker Haaland was runner-up to Messi final 12 months, the favorites to win this 12 months’s Ballon d’Or embody Real Madrid pair Vinicius Junior and Bellingham, in addition to City and Spain midfielder Rodri.
Messi was additionally left off the listing in 2022 however powered again to encourage Argentina to the World Cup title later that 12 months, successful his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023.
However, within the latter stage of his profession and now enjoying in MLS, he could discover it more durable to carry off the problem of youthful rivals for the title of the world’s finest.
It can also be notable that Messi was omitted regardless of successful a significant worldwide honor with Argentina this 12 months.
Aitana Bonmati, who received the ladies’s award final 12 months, is nominated once more. U.S. stars Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Alyssa Naeher, and Lindsey Horan are additionally on the 30-player listing of contenders.
The awards are voted on by a jury of males’s and ladies’s soccer journalists.
Created by France Football journal, the Ballon d’Or was first awarded to England nice Stanley Matthews in 1956.
Legends of the sport, together with Eusebio, Bobby Charlton, George Best, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Ronaldo, and Zinedine Zidane, have all received the award.
Source: www.dailysabah.com