Paris, September 2024 — Lionel Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and Argentina’s legendary forward, has been left off the list of 2024 Ballon d’Or nominees, as revealed by the award’s organizers on Wednesday. The nominees list is dominated by stars from Spain’s Euro 2024-winning team and Real Madrid’s Champions League champions.
Despite leading Argentina to Copa America victory in July, Messi, now 37 and playing for MLS club Inter Miami, is not among the 30 contenders. This marks his second omission in three years, after being left out in 2022 when Karim Benzema took home the honor, only to return last year to claim his eighth Ballon d’Or following his 2022 World Cup triumph.
Brazil’s Vinicius Junior is considered a top contender and is one of six Real Madrid players nominated, alongside Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Toni Kroos, Antonio Rüdiger, and Fede Valverde. Other notable nominees include Kylian Mbappé, who recently transferred to Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane.
Spanish stars who played key roles in the nation’s Euro 2024 victory also dominate the list, including Dani Olmo, Rodri, Nico Williams, and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
In the women’s category, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí, who won last year, is nominated again, joined by former winners Ada Hegerberg and Alexia Putellas, as well as several key players from the United States’ Olympic gold medal-winning team.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to take place in Paris on October 28.
