New Delhi: The men’s Ballon d’Or award nominees were unveiled yesterday with two missing giants on the list. Argentina and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner who claimed the prize in 2023, does not make the list this time. It is the first time since 2003 that neither Messi, 37, nor five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, have appeared on the list of nominees. Ronaldo was also missing from the list last year, while Messi missed out despite winning Copa America 2024 in July.
Lionel Messi, Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain has won the honor more than any other player (8) while Portuguese talisman Ronaldo has won the award five times. The last time Messi lifted the award was in 2022. These two have shared the individual honor for 10 years in a row before Luka Modric broke their combined streak in 2018. The only other previous recipients still playing – Karim Benzema and Luka Modric – were also left off the shortlist this year. So, a first-time winner is guaranteed.
For 2024, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Rodri, and Kylian Mbappe are some of the biggest names nominated among 30 men’s award this time. Euro 2024 winners Spain have six players in the nominated list including 17-year-old Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal along with Nico Williams, Alejandro Grimaldo, Dani Olmo, Rodri, and Dani Carvajal. Similarly, England captain Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, and Cole Palmer were among the list of six England players nominated for the prestigious award.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is among the top contenders for the award. Xabi Alonso, whose unbeaten side Leverkusen won the Bundesliga, is among the favorites to grab the Best Coach award.
Meanwhile, on the women’s side, Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona and Spain will hope to retain the women’s Ballon d’Or. five members of the USA Olympic gold medal-winning team – Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, Lindsey Horan, and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. Former winners Ada Hegerberg and Alexia Putellas also got nominated.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Paris on 28 October.
List of Ballon d’Or 2024 men’s nominees:
Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Türkiye, Inter)
Dani Carvajal (Spain, Real Madrid)
Rúben Dias (Portugal, Manchester City)
Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine, Dnipro / Girona / Roma)
Phil Foden (England, Manchester City)
Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain, Bayer Leverkusen)
Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
Mats Hummels (Germany, Borussia Dortmund)
Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria, Atalanta)
Emiliano Martínez (Argentina, Aston Villa)
Lautaro Martínez (Argentina, Inter )
Kylian Mbappé (France, Paris Saint-Germain / Real Madrid)
Martin Ødegaard (Norway, Arsenal)
Dani Olmo (Spain, Leipzig / Barcelona)
Cole Palmer (England, Manchester City / Chelsea)
Declan Rice (England, Arsenal)
Rodri (Spain, Manchester City)
Antonio Rüdiger (Germany, Real Madrid)
Bukayo Saka (England, Arsenal)
William Saliba (France, Arsenal)
Federico Valverde (Uruguay, Real Madrid)
Vinícius Júnior (Brazil, Real Madrid)
Vitinha (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)
Nico Williams (Spain, Athletic Club)
Florian Wirtz (Germany, Bayer Leverkusen)
Granit Xhaka (Switzerland, Bayer Leverkusen)
Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona
List of Ballon d’Or 2024 women’s nominees:
Barbra Banda (Zambia, Shanghai RCB / Orlando Pride)
Aitana Bonmatí (Spain, Barcelona)
Lucy Bronze (England, Barcelona / Chelsea)
Mariona Caldentey (Spain, Barcelona / Arsenal)
Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi, Paris Saint-Germain / Olympique Lyonnais)
Grace Geyoro (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
Manuela Giugliano (Italy, AS Roma)
Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway, Barcelona)
Patricia Guijarro (Spain, Barcelona)
Giulia Gwinn (Germany, Bayern München)
Yui Hasegawa (Japan, Manchester City)
Ada Hegerberg (Norway, Olympique Lyonnais)
Lauren Hemp (England, Manchester City)
Lindsey Horan (USA, Olympique Lyonnais)
Lauren James (England, Chelsea)
Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
Alyssa Naeher (USA, Chicago Red Stars)
Sjoeke Nüsken (Germany, Chelsea)
Ewa Pajor (Poland, VfL Wolfsburg / Barcelona)
Salma Paralluelo (Spain, Barcelona)
Gabi Portilho (Brazil, Corinthians)
Alexia Putellas (Spain, Barcelona)
Mayra Ramírez (Colombia, Levante / Chelsea)
Trinity Rodman (USA, Washington Spirit)
Lea Schüller (Germany, Bayern München)
Khadija Shaw (Jamaica, Manchester City)
Sophia Smith (USA, Portland Thorns)
Mallory Swanson (USA, Chicago Red Stars)
Tarciane (Brazil, Corinthians / Houston Dash)
Glódís Viggósdóttir (Iceland, Bayern München)
Stars of Spain’s Euro 2024 winning team and Real Madrid’s Champions League triumph feature heavily among the 30 nominated candidates. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
