Cristiano Ronaldo previously stated that the Ballon d’Or is losing its credibility after he was excluded from the shortlist for the prestigious award.
On Wednesday night, France Football revealed the nominations for the 2024 award, featuring 30 of the world’s top players vying for the highest individual honor in men’s football.
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Ronaldo, a star at Al Nassr and a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, did not make the list despite scoring 44 goals across all competitions for his Saudi Pro League team last season.
His long-time rival, Lionel Messi, who holds the record with eight Ballon d’Or wins, including last year’s, was also conspicuously absent from the 2024 shortlist.
This marks the first time since 2003 that neither Messi nor Ronaldo has been nominated for the award.
Last year, Ronaldo remarked that both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best awards were “losing credibility” after he was excluded from the nominees, despite being the top scorer in world football with 54 goals in 2023.
“It’s not to say that Messi didn’t deserve it, or [Erling] Haaland or even [Kylian] Mbappe… but the numbers are there and the numbers don’t deceive. You have to consider the entire season,” Ronaldo told Record.
“The numbers are facts. If you go back and see what happened at Manchester United and the national team, people actually considered me lost… but the truth is that I focused and had a great period at Al Nassr, that’s why I scored 54 goals.
“As long as my head and body are fine, and I enjoy football, I will continue to play. Right now, I feel good, I feel fulfilled and happy on the field, both in the national team and at the club.
“I’m doing what I like most: goals and good performances.”
Ronaldo and Messi are yet to comment on not making the cut for this year’s Ballon d’Or award, which is now set to be won by another player for their first time in their career.
Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr is the current favourite to win the award, with Man City’s Rodri and another Madrid player – Jude Bellingham – also fancied by the bookmakers.
Men’s Ballon d’Or award shortlist in full
Antonio Rudiger – Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid
Lautaro Martinez – Inter
Ademola Lookman – Atalanta
Alejandro Grimaldo – Bayer Leverkusen
Dani Carvajal – Real Madrid
William Saliba – Arsenal
Lamine Yamal – Barcelona
Bukayo Saka – Arsenal
Hakan Calhanoglu – Inter
Rodri – Man City
Declan Rice – Arsenal
Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
Cole Palmer – Chelsea
Vitinha – PSG
Vinicius Jr – Real Madrid
Martin Odegaard – Arsenal
Dani Olmo – Barcelona
Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen
Mats Hummels – Roma
Erling Haaland – Man City
Nicolas Williams – Athletic Bilbao
Granit Xhaka – Bayer Leverkusen
Artem Dovbik – Roma
Toni Kroos – Real Madrid
Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid
Phil Foden – Man City
Ruben Dias – Man City
Federico Valverde – Real Madrid
Emiliano Martinez – Aston VIlla
