Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, has been left off the list of nominations for this year's Ballon d'Or award. The prestigious individual honor, which Messi has won a record eight times, did not include the Argentine star in the list of 30 players vying for the award.
Notably, this marks the first time since 2003 that neither Messi nor his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo have been nominated for the Ballon d'Or. The absence of these two iconic players has paved the way for a new generation of talent to shine, with names like Vinicius Junior, Rodri, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane making the nominations list.
Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami after leaving European soccer, continues to perform at a high level and was instrumental in helping Argentina secure victory in the Copa America earlier this year. Despite his remarkable career achievements, Messi will not have the opportunity to defend his Ballon d'Or title this year.
The Ballon d'Or, first awarded in 1956, has seen legends of the game like Eusébio, Johan Cruyff, and Zinédine Zidane claim the prestigious accolade. This year's favorites for the award include Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and Bellingham, as well as Manchester City's Rodri.
While Messi's omission from the nominations list may come as a surprise to many, it underscores the emergence of a new era in soccer, with young talents like Mbappé and Haaland making their mark on the sport. The Ballon d'Or awards, voted on by a jury of soccer journalists, serve as a platform to recognize the outstanding achievements of players on the global stage.
As the soccer world eagerly awaits the announcement of this year's Ballon d'Or winner on October 28, the absence of Messi and Ronaldo from the nominations list signals a changing of the guard in the realm of elite soccer talent.
