Top 5 omissions from the Ballon d'Or 2024 shortlist ft. Cristiano Ronaldo
The Ballon d'Or is arguably the most prestigious award in football. Winning one is a grand recognition of a footballer’s elite status. It is also a recognition of their contributions to the success of their teams, as most winners have won trophies during the year they won the award.
The 2024 shortlist was finally announced on September 4, and alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, there were quite a few names missing. Let's look at the biggest omissions and see if there's any justification for their exemptions.
Before that, though, a number of players deserve an honourable mention on this list, including superstar Victor Osimhen. Others include Jeremie Frimpong, who helped Bayer Leverkusen win an unbeaten domestic double.
Aurelien Tchouamemi and Luka Modric both partook in Real Madrid winning La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. Mike Maignan, who had the most clean sheets during Euro 2024, also missed out alongside Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.
Top 5 omissions from the Ballon d'Or 2024 shortlist
#5 Mohamed Salah
We start with Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah, who has been the main man at Anfield for a very long time. He also sits at the top of the pack as one of the best right-wingers in the world. However, that didn't seem to be enough to earn him a nomination for the Ballon d'Or.
For a player who's that important to Liverpool, and has been performing at a consistently high level, not getting a nomination is a surprise.
#4 Rodrygo
This one came as a bit of a surprise considering Rodrygo has grown into an integral part of the hugely successful Real Madrid team. While Liverpool's singular trophy can be argued in Mohamed Salah's case, Madrid won La Liga and the Champions League last season.
Rodrygo was a big part of that success, contributing 17 goals and nine assists in 51 appearances for the club. A number of his teammates, including Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, and Antonio Rudiger were all nominated. One can only wonder what more he had to do to get nominated.
#3 Kevin De Bruyne
The Manchester City playmaker may have missed about half the season due to injury, but his contributions to their success on his return cannot be overlooked. Kevin de Bruyne had 24 goal involvements in 26 appearances for his club and helped them skip past Liverpool and Arsenal to the Premier League title.
Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to earn him a nomination. De Bruyne remains one of the best midfielders in the world and could certainly force his way back into contention this season.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo - 5 Ballon d'Or awards
Cristiano Ronaldo has missed out on a nomination for the second time in a row for the first time since his first nomination in 2004. That's a long time by any standard but shouldn't really come as a surprise considering the living legend no longer plays in Europe.
Ronaldo hasn't led his country, Portugal, to any international success since their UEFA Nations League in 2019. At the recently concluded Euro 2024, he floundered in front of goal, failing to score even once during the tournament. In Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo has 79 goal involvements in 68 games, but these did not lead to a trophy last season.
#1 Lionel Messi - 8 Ballon d'Or awards
Arguably the greatest to play the game, and the reigning Ballon d'Or holder with eight to his name, Lionel Messi has missed out on the 2024 nomination. This makes it only the second time since his first nomination in 2006 that he won't be on the shortlist for the Ballon d'Or award.
Also, this marks the very first time since 2003 that neither Messi nor Ronaldo was nominated. Despite leading Argentina to their second Copa America trophy on the bounce in 2024, the era of the GOAT is finally coming to an end. He now plays with Inter Miami in the MLS.