For the first time in 21 years, the 2024 Ballon d’Or nominations list excludes football legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Messi, an 8-time winner, and Ronaldo, with 5 victories, have dominated the award for nearly two decades. Their absence marks the end of an era, as a new generation of talent takes the spotlight.
Ronaldo’s remarkable run began in 2004, earning him the most nominations with 18. Messi, with 16 nominations and a record-setting 8 wins, holds the most victories in Ballon d’Or history, a feat unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon.
The 2024 shortlist highlights top talents like Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and fan-favorite Rodri, who now aim to carry the mantle of dominance that Messi and Ronaldo once held. Among the 30 nominees is Atalanta and Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman, who helped secure his team’s Europa League triumph with a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen.
