The best football players of the year are awarded annually with the Golden Ball. For the first time in 21 years, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi are not on the candidate list.
The best football players are awarded annually with the Golden Ball (Ballon d’Or). This year’s list of nominees for the best men’s soccer player is exceptional, because for the first time in 21 years, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo or Argentina Lionel Messi is not a candidate.
The observation was highlighted by, among others, a news agency Reuters.
Messi, who represents Inter Miami in the MLS league, won that award last year.
The 37-year-old Messi has been selected as the world’s best male player a total of eight times in his career. No one else has won the award as many times as he has.
For Ronaldo, who represents Al-Nassr in the Saudi Arabian football league, this is the second year in a row without a nomination.
39-year-old Ronaldo has received the Ballon d’Or five times in his career.
In the summer European Championship, Ronaldo’s Portugal lost to France in the quarter-finals. At the same time, the Argentine national team, starred by Messi, celebrated the victory of the Copa America tournament.
The candidate lists were published on Wednesday. The awards will be presented on October 28 in Paris at the Place du Châtelet. The Golden Ball is considered to be the most significant individual award given to football players.