In a shocking turn of events, the football world is witnessing a changing of the guard. For the first time since 2003, neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo has been nominated for the prestigious Balon d’Or award. The dynamic duo has long been synonymous with excellence, but it seems their reign has finally come to an end.
A fresh crop of talent has emerged, and the 30-player shortlist is filled with exciting new names. Vinicius Junior, Rodri, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane are just a few of the players vying for the top prize. These young stars have already made their mark on the sport, leading their teams to victory and breaking records along the way.
Meanwhile, Messi and Ronaldo are facing a new reality. Messi, recovering from injury with Inter Miami, won the award last year, but it seems his time in the spotlight is fading. Ronaldo, too, is no longer the dominant force he once was.
The Balon d’Or will be presented on October 28, and one thing is certain – a new champion will be crowned. The question on everyone’s lips is, who will it be?
See full list below:
Men’s Ballon d’Or nominees
Jude Bellingham (England and Real Madrid)
Ruben Dias (Portugal and Manchester City)
Phil Foden (England and Manchester City)
Federico Valverde (Uruguay and Real Madrid)
Emiliano Martinez (Argentina and Aston Villa)
Cole Palmer (England and Chelsea)
Erling Haaland (Norway and Manchester City)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria and Atalanta)
Nico Williams (Spain and Athletic Bilbao)
Granit Xhaka (Switzerland and Bayer Leverkusen)
Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine and Roma)
Toni Kroos (former Germany and Real Madrid)
Vinicius Jr (Brazil and Real Madrid)
Dani Olmo (Spain and Barcelona)
Florian Wirtz (Germany and Bayer Leverkusen)
Martin Odegaard (Norway and Arsenal)
Mats Hummels (Germany, free agent)
Rodri (Spain and Manchester City)
Harry Kane (England and Bayern Munich)
Declan Rice (England and Arsenal)
Vitinha (Portugal and Paris St-Germain)
Dani Carvajal (Spain and Real Madrid)
Lamine Yamal (Spain and Barcelona)
Bukayo Saka (England and Arsenal)
Hakan Calhanoglu (Turkey and Inter Milan)
William Saliba (France and Arsenal)
Kylian Mbappe (France and Real Madrid)
Lautaro Martinez (Argentina and Inter Milan)
Antonio Rudiger (Germany and Real Madrid)
Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain and Bayer Leverkusen)
Women’s Ballon d’Or nominees
Aitana Bonmati (Spain and Barcelona)
Barbra Banda (Zambia and Orlando Pride)
Tarciane (Brazil and Houston Dash)
Lauren Hemp (England and Manchester City)
Trinity Rodman (United States and Washington Spirit)
Ada Hegerberg (Norway and Lyon)
Manuela Giugliano (Italy and Roma)
Mallory Swanson (United States and Chicago Red Stars)
Glodis Viggosdottir (Iceland and Bayern Munich)
Mariona Caldentey (Spain and Arsenal)
Lauren James (England and Chelsea)
Lea Schuller (Germany and Bayern Munich)
Patricia Guijarro (Spain and Barcelona)
Gabi Portilho (Brazil and Corinthians)
Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi and Lyon)
Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway and Barcelona)
Lindsey Horan (United States and Lyon)
Sjoeke Nusken (Germany and Chelsea)
Yui Hasegawa (Japan and Manchester City)
Lucy Bronze (England and Chelsea)
Salma Paralluelo (Spain and Barcelona)
Giulia Gwinn (Germany and Bayern Munich)
Khadija Shaw (Jamaica and Manchester City)
Grace Geyoro (France and Paris St-Germain)
Alexia Putellas (Spain and Barcelona)
Sophia Smith (United States and Portland Thorns)
Ewa Pajor (Poland and Barcelona)
Alyssa Naeher (United States and Chicago Red Stars)
Mayra Ramirez (Colombia and Chelsea)
Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France and Paris St-Germain)
Kopa Trophy nominees
Pau Cubarsi – (Spain and Barcelona)
Alejandro Garnacho – (Argentina and Manchester United)
Lamine Yamal – (Spain and Barcelona)
Arda Guler – (Turkey and Real Madrid)
Karim Konate – (Cote d’Ivoire and Salzburg)
Kobbie Mainoo – (England and Manchester United)
Joao Neyes – (Portugal and PSG)
Savinho Oliveira – (Brazil and Manchester City)
Mathys Tel – (France and Bayern Munich)
Warren Zaire-Emery – (France and PSG)
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