Argentina legend Lionel Messi has missed out on the Ballon d’Or nominee list for the first time since 2005. France Football released the much-awaited list in which there is no mention of Messi. After moving from his longtime club Barcelona to PSG last summer, Messi had a very average season.
Lionel Messi scored 11 goals in 34 matches in all competitions for PSG last season. However, only 6 of those goals came in the Ligue 1 where he became champion with the club. He also assisted in 15 goals in all competitions. Thus his total G+A stood at 26.
It is considered by many fans that he had a very average season which is below his standards. After winning the prestigious award last year, it is certainly shocking that he didn’t make the list. He was also heavily criticized for missing an important penalty against Real Madrid in the champions league last season. That penalty miss ultimately cost them a quarter-final place.
Lionel Messi’s rivals made the cut
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and considered by many as Lionel Messi’s top football rival is included in the list. Ronaldo scored 24 goals in all competitions for Manchester United last season and assisted 3 goals. 18 of those goals came in the Premier League. He scored 2 hat-tricks in the league and 6 goals for the club in the champions league.
Thus his total G+A stood at 27 for the season, which is one more than Lionel Messi’s 26. However excellent goalscoring record in the league and champions league helped him make the cut. Ronaldo however missed out on a trophy with a club for the first time since 2009.
Other prominent names and the complete list
Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema is the outright favorite to win the Ballon d’Or this year. 6 players from the club have been included in the list. Other names include goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Benzema’s striking partner Vinicius Jr. Neymar Jr also missed out on the list this year.
Ballon d’Or complete list of nominees –
- Thibaut Courtois (Real Madird)
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
- Rafael Leao (AC Milan)
- Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)
- Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
- Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
- Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
- Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
- Luis Diaz (Liverpool)
- Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
- Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City)
- Casemiro (Real Madrid)
- Heung-Min Son (Tottenham)
- Fabinho (Liverpool)
- Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
- Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
- Harry Kane (Tottenham)
- Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)
- Phil Foden (Manchester City)
- Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich)
- Sebastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund)
- Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
- Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
- Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
- Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus)
- Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
- Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
- Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
