September 5 – Marking the end of an era, for the first time since 2003 neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo have been nominated for the Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious awards ceremony voted for by a jury of journalists from each of the top 100 countries in FIFA’s world ranking.
Messi claimed the eighth Ballon d’Or of his glittering career last year but now 37, he is not among the 30 contenders this time despite winning another title with Argentina at the Copa America in July.
The former Barcelona superstar, now playing club football for Inter Miami, was also missing from the nominees in 2022 but this is the first time both he and Ronaldo, who has five Ballon d’Or trophies to his name and is now playing in Saudi Arabia, did not feature for this year’s prize which will be presented on October 28 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
Real Madrid’s Brazil forward Vinicius Junior is among the favourites for the individual men’s award. Other nominees include Rodri, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, erling Haaland and Harry Kane.
A first-time men’s winner is guaranteed since also left off the list were Karim Benzema and Luka Modric – the only other previous recipients still playing.
European champions Spain and Champions League winners Real Madrid are vying for the team award while Xabi Alonso, who won the Bundesliga in an unbeaten season with Bayer Leverkusen, is among the favourites for best men’s coach.
His rivals include Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti, Spain’s Luis de la Fuente and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola after another Premier League title and a maiden Club World Cup triumph.
Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona and Spain will hope to retain the women’s Ballon d’Or. Former winners Ada Hegerberg and Alexia Putellas are also nominated, along with five members of the United States’ Olympic gold medal-winning team.
New USA women’s team manager, Emma Hayes, faces competition for the women’s coach of the year award from England’s Sarina Wiegman and Hayes’s Chelsea successor Sonia Bompastor.
The two Coach of the Year awards are new to the Ballon d’Or this year.
Last year UEFA and Groupe Amaury, owner of France Football and L’Équipe, announced a partnership to co-organise the renowned Ballon d’Or from 2024. The awards had been presented annually by France Football since 1956, and had a relationship with FIFA before the current administration opted to go their own way with their own new launch awards.
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