Frank Christian
For the past two decades, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been the dominant forces in the annual Ballon d’Or race, with their fierce rivalry capturing the football world’s attention during their prime years at Barcelona and Real Madrid.
However, as their illustrious careers wind down, both Messi and Ronaldo have been left off the 30-man shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, marking a significant shift in the landscape of the prestigious award.
Historical Perspective
Between 2011 and 2017, the Ballon d’Or race was a battle between Messi and Ronaldo, with only Luka Modric managing to break their dominance in 2018. Since 2007, only Modric and Karim Benzema have won the award, other than Messi and Ronaldo.
These two football legends have been fixtures on the Ballon d’Or shortlist for the past 20 years, with Messi’s absence in 2022 being the first time he was not nominated since 2005, while Ronaldo missed out in 2023 for the first time since 2003.
Breakdown of Nominations
Since 2005, Messi has been nominated for 17 out of 18 Ballon d’Or shortlists and has clinched the trophy a record-breaking eight times, solidifying his status as the most successful player in Ballon d’Or history.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, boasts an extensive streak of nominations from 2004 to 2022, winning the coveted award five times, making him the second most successful player in Ballon d’Or history.
The Changing Landscape
The departure of Messi and Ronaldo from the European football scene in 2023 signaled the end of an era, with Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr and Messi’s shift to Inter Miami impacting their Ballon d’Or prospects.
The altered criteria for the award from 2022, focusing on the previous season rather than the calendar year, played a role in Messi’s 2023 victory, emphasizing his 2022 World Cup success with Argentina.
With the emergence of new talents such as Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior, 2024 marks the beginning of a new era in the Ballon d’Or race, highlighting a shift in the football landscape.
