Lionel Messi Excluded from 2024 Ballon d’Or Shortlist: A Shift in the Football Landscape
Lionel Messi, the legendary footballer who lifted a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or in Paris last year, will not have the opportunity to defend his title. France Football has left Messi off the 2024 shortlist for the prestigious individual award, marking a significant shift in his career trajectory.
This exclusion mirrors the situation in 2022 when Karim Benzema claimed the award as Messi’s time at Paris Saint-Germain came to an unremarkable close. However, this year’s omission appears to be more definitive for the 37-year-old superstar, who has long been a dominant force in the world of football.
The criteria for the 2023 Ballon d’Or have changed, now considering performances from the previous European season rather than the calendar year. While Messi’s triumph at the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina helped him secure the award last year, his current situation is complicated by the fact that Major League Soccer (MLS) operates on a calendar year schedule. This puts Messi out of sync with the predominantly European-based contenders who are accumulating accolades that could bolster their Ballon d’Or candidacy.
Despite Argentina’s successful defense of their Copa America title this year, it was not enough to earn Messi a spot on the shortlist. Notably, his Albiceleste teammates, Emiliano Martinez and Lautaro Martinez, have made the 30-man shortlist, highlighting the ongoing talent within the national team.
In a surprising turn of events, Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi’s long-time rival, has also been excluded from the nominations for the second consecutive year. This marks the first time since 2003 that neither of these era-defining superstars has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
2024 Ballon d’Or Nominees: A New Generation of Talent
The 2024 Ballon d’Or shortlist features a host of emerging stars and established players, showcasing the evolving landscape of football. Here are the nominees:
| Player | Club | National team |
| Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid | England |
| Ruben Dias | Manchester City | Portugal |
| Phil Foden | Manchester City | England |
| Federico Valverde | Real Madrid | Uruguay |
| Emiliano Martinez | Aston Villa | Argentina |
| Erling Haaland | Manchester City | Norway |
| Nico Williams | Athletic Club | Spain |
| Granit Xhaka | Bayer Leverkusen | Switzerland |
| Artem Dovbyk | Roma* | Ukraine |
| Toni Kroos | Real Madrid** | Germany |
| Vinicius Junior | Real Madrid | Brazil |
| Dani Olmo | Barcelona*** | Spain |
| Florian Wirtz | Bayer Leverkusen | Germany |
| Martin Odegaard | Arsenal | Norway |
| Mats Hummels | Borussia Dortmund**** | Germany |
| Rodri | Manchester City | Spain |
| Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | England |
| Declan Rice | Arsenal | England |
| Vitinha | PSG | Portugal |
| Cole Palmer | Chelsea | England |
| Dani Carvajal | Real Madrid | Spain |
| Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | Spain |
| Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | England |
| Hakan Calhanoglu | Inter Milan | Turkey |
| William Saliba | Arsenal | France |
| Kylian Mbappe | Real Madrid***** | France |
| Lautaro Martinez | Inter Milan | Argentina |
| Ademola Lookman | Atalanta | Nigeria |
| Antonio Rudiger | Real Madrid | Germany |
| Alejandro Grimaldo | Bayer Leverkusen | Spain |
