The official list of nominees for the 2024 Ballon d’Or have been released, but, it has sparked fires across the media because of the omission of Messi and Ronaldo who have always dominated the nomination list since 2003.
The list was released by the European football body, UEFA, on Wednesday in a tweet and the omission of the eight-time record winner,
Messi who plays currently for Inter Miami and six-time winner, Ronaldo comes as a surprise to football fans.
The annual award which started in 1956 is always presented to footballers in different categories who have recorded outstanding or exceptional performances and achievements in a year.
This year’s Ballon d’Or which will be presented on Monday, Oct. 28. at the Théâtre du Châtelet, located at the Place du Châtelet in Paris. See the full list of the 2024 nominees here:
Men’s Ballon d’Or nominees
1. Jude Bellingham (England and Real Madrid)
2. Ruben Dias (Portugal and Manchester City)
3. Phil Foden (England and Manchester City)
4. Federico Valverde (Uruguay and Real Madrid)
5. Emiliano Martinez (Argentina and Aston Villa)
6. Cole Palmer (England and Chelsea)
7. Erling Haaland (Norway and Manchester City)
8. Ademola Lookman (Nigeria and Atalanta)
9. Nico Williams (Spain and Athletic Bilbao)
10. Granit Xhaka (Switzerland and Bayer Leverkusen)
11. Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine and Roma)
12. Toni Kroos (former Germany and Real Madrid)
13. Vinicius Jr (Brazil and Real Madrid)
14. Oani Olmo (Spain and Barcelona)
15. Florian Wirtz (Germany and Bayer Leverkusen)
16. Martin Odegaard (Norway and Arsenal)
17. Mats Hummels (Germany, free agent)
18. Rodri (Spain and Manchester City)
19. Harry Kane (England and Bayern Munich)
20. Declan Rice (England and Arsenal)
21. Vitinha (Portugal and Paris St-Germain)
22. Dani Carvajal (Spain and Real Madrid)
23. Lamine Yamal (Spain and Barcelona)
24. Bukayo Saka (England and Arsenal)
25. Hakan Calhanoglu (Turkey and Inter Milan)
26. William Saliba (France and Arsenal)
27. Kylian Mbappe (France and Real Madrid)
28. Lautaro Martinez (Argentina and Inter Milan)
29. Antonio Rudiger (Germany and Real Madrid)
30. Alejandro Grimaldo (Spain and Bayer Leverkusen)
Women’s Ballon d’Or nominees
1. Aitana Bonmati (Spain and Barcelona)
2. Barbra Banda (Zambia and Orlando Pride)
3. Tarciane (Brazil and Houston Dash)
4. Lauren Hemp (England and Manchester City)
5. Trinity Rodman (United States and Washington Spirit)
6. Ada Hegerberg (Norway and Lyon)
7. Manuela Giugliano (Italy and Roma)
8. Mallory Swanson (United States and Chicago Red Stars)
9. Glodis Viggosdottir (Iceland and Bayern Munich)
10. Mariona Caldentey (Spain and Arsenal)
11. Lauren James (England and Chelsea)
12. Lea Schuller (Germany and Bayern Munich)
13. Patricia Guijarro (Spain and Barcelona)
14. Gabi Portilho (Brazil and Corinthians)
15. Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi and Lyon)
16. Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway and Barcelona)
17. Lindsey Horan (United States and Lyon)
18. Sjoeke Nusken (Germany and Chelsea)
19. Yui Hasegawa (Japan and Manchester City)
20. Lucy Bronze (England and Chelsea)
21. Salma Paralluelo (Spain and Barcelona)
22. Giulia Gwinn (Germany and Bayern Munich)
23. Khadija Shaw (Jamaica and Manchester City)
24. Grace Geyoro (France and Paris St-Germain)
25. Alexia Putellas (Spain and Barcelona)
26. Sophia Smith (United States and Portland Thorns)
27. Ewa Pajor (Poland and Barcelona)
28. Alyssa Naeher (United States and Chicago Red Stars)
29.Mayra Ramirez (Colombia and Chelsea)
30. Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France and Paris St-Germain)
Kopa Trophy nominees
1. Pau Cubarsi – (Spain and Barcelona)
2. Alejandro Garnacho – (Argentina and Manchester United)
3. Lamine Yamal – (Spain and Barcelona)
4. Arda Guler – (Turkey and Real Madrid)
5. Karim Konate – (Cote d’Ivoire and Salzburg)
6. Kobbie Mainoo – (England and Manchester United)
7. Joao Neyes – (Portugal and PSG)
8. Savinho Oliveira – (Brazil and Manchester City)
9. Mathys Tel – (France and Bayern Munich)
10. Warren Zaire-Emery – (France and PSG)
