Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence from the 2024 Ballon d’Or shortlist marks a significant shift in the landscape of football’s highest individual honors.
For the first time since 2003, neither Ronaldo nor his long-time rival Lionel Messi have been nominated for the award, signaling a potential end of an era that has dominated the sport for nearly two decades.
The nominations, announced Wednesday by France Football, include 30 of the world’s elite players but conspicuously omit the two players who have turned the competition into a duopoly since 2008.
This year’s list is heavily influenced by the recent achievements in European club and international competitions, with significant representation from Real Madrid’s Champions League winners and Spain’s Euro 2024 victors.
Speaking last year, Ronaldo was vocal about his concerns regarding the credibility of the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best awards, particularly after his exclusion from the nominee list despite being the top scorer in world football for 2023 with 54 goals.
“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 reasons behind the snub of these two footballing giants are multifaceted.
Ronaldo, now playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, and Messi, currently with MLS club Inter Miami, have both departed from Europe’s top-tier leagues. This transition away from the highly competitive environments of European football is likely a key factor in their omission.
The Ballon d’Or, while globally inclusive, still heavily weights performance in the top European competitions, which are watched and scrutinized more by the award’s voting journalists.
Messi, aged 37, continues to perform at a high level but has seen less competitive exposure in the MLS compared to his days at Barcelona and PSG.
Despite leading Argentina to another Copa America title in July, the shift in club competition appears to have influenced the jury’s decision.
Messi’s last win came after a spectacular World Cup victory with Argentina in Qatar, highlighting the impact of international success on the award’s considerations.
On the other hand, Ronaldo, despite his prolific scoring in Saudi Arabia, faces similar challenges. The visibility and competitive standards of the Saudi Pro League are not yet on par with those of Europe’s elite leagues, which likely impacted his candidacy.
At 39, Ronaldo’s career is in its twilight, and while his goal-scoring prowess remains undisputed, the shift in competitive focus could be a signal that his days of winning top global honors might be behind him.
The favorites for this year’s award illustrate a shift towards the younger generation who are making their mark in the most competitive environments.
Players like Vinicius Junior, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe, all active in top European leagues, reflect this changing of the guard.
As the football world looks towards the upcoming Ballon d’Or ceremony on October 28 in Paris, the discussion around the criteria for nominations and the evolving nature of the sport continues.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo and Messi, with their legacies firmly established, may now focus on contributing to their teams and mentoring the next generation, even if their own chances of adding to their Ballon d’Or tally seem to be waning.
