For the first time in over 20 years, the Ballon d’Or shortlist has been revealed without the names of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. This marks a massive moment in football history. Since 2003, these two giants have dominated the sport, not just on the pitch but also in the race for individual accolades. However, 2024 brings an unexpected change, with both legends absent from the Ballon d’Or final list.
Cristiano Ronaldo first broke into the Ballon d’Or scene in 2004, and from that point onwards, he never looked back, securing a nomination every single year until 2022. On the other hand, Messi received his first nomination in 2006 and maintained his spot on the list for nearly every year, only missing out once in 2022.
But for the first time since 2003, neither player will compete for the top prize, signalling the end of an era that defined a generation of football.
The last time the Ballon d’Or featured neither Messi nor Ronaldo was back in 2003 when Czech midfielder Pavel Nedvěd took home the honour. That was a completely different footballing landscape, long before these two greats emerged to shape the modern game.
Now, after decades of continuous recognition, their joint absence from Ballon d’Or feels like a shift in football’s narrative. Messi’s exclusion in 2022 hinted at this, and Ronaldo’s missing out last year only confirmed the inevitable passing of the torch. In 2024, both are finally left off the shortlist, signalling a new chapter for the Ballon d’Or.
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How many times have they won the Ballon d’Or?
When we look back at their careers, it’s impossible to overlook just how dominant they’ve been. Messi leads with an astonishing eight Ballon d’Or wins. Ronaldo isn’t far behind, boasting five trophies of his own.
These numbers put them at the top of football’s greatest individual performers. Behind them, other legends like Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, and Marco Van Basten have won three times each, but no one has reached the heights Messi and Ronaldo have climbed.
List of players with the most number of Ballon d’Ors:
- Lionel Messi: 8 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023)
- Cristiano Ronaldo: 5 (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017)
- Michel Platini: 3 (1983, 1984, 1985)
- Johan Cruyff: 3 (1971, 1973, 1974)
- Marco Van Basten: 3 (1988, 1989, 1992)
