Ballon d’Or 2024: Messi, Ronaldo miss out for first time since 2003

For the first time since 2023, the iconic duo of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are not included in the list of nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or award.

A list of 30 players were released by the organizers on Wednesday.

The winner will be presented October 28.

Vinicius Junior, Rodri, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane are among the names nominated.

Teammates Vinicius, Rodri and Bellingham helped Real Madrid win LaLiga and the club’s 16th Champions League title last season, while Haaland led the Premier League in goals scored and Kane did the same for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

Messi, who is working his way back from injury with club side Inter Miami, won the award last year.