Cristiano Ronaldo has already been knocked out. This time, Lionel Messi did not get a place in the short list of Ballon d’Or.
This is the first time in 21 years that neither Messi nor Ronaldo have been shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or.
From 2008 to 2017, the Ballon d’Or meant Messi or Ronaldo. Messi won this award maximum 8 times. And Ronaldo won five times.
So this time the prize of France magazine is going to be picked up by someone new. Vinicius Jr. is leading the race. This Brazilian forward spent a great season for Real Madrid. Won Champions League, Spanish Super Cup and La Liga. The Ballon d’Or award will be given on October 28 after trimming the shortlist of 30 people.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, Xavi Alonso, Piero Gasparini, Lionel Scaloni and Luis de la Fuente have made it to the shortlist for Coach of the Year.
30-man shortlist for Ballon d’Or: Jude Bellingham, Ruben Dias, Phil Foden, Federico Valverde, Emiliano Martinez, Arling Haaland, Nico Williams, Granit Xhaka, Artem Dovic, Toni Kroos, Vinicius Jr., Dani Olmo, Florian Virtz, Martin Odegaard, Mats Hummels, Rodri, Harry Kane, Declan Rice, Vitina, Cole Palmer, Dani Carvajal, Lamine Yamal, Bukayo Saka, Hakan Kalhanoglu, William Saliba, Kylian Mbappe, Lautaro Martinez, Ademola Lookman, Antonio Rudiger, Alex Grimaldo.
