Connect with us
X
Categories:

Sports

Ballon d’Or: Lionel Messi Didn’t Make Nominee List First Time Since 2005 [SEE FULL LIST]

Published

on

Leo Messi
Share this post:

Lionel Messi has been left off the 30-man list of Ballon d’Or nominees for the first time since 2005 after the contenders were announced by France Football on Friday.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema leads the nominees as he bids to win the first Ballon d’Or award of his career. Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland were also included in the list of this year’s nominees.

There was no place, either, for Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain teammate Neymar.

Three United States women’s national team players feature among the 20 nominees for the Women’s Ballon d’Or — Catarina Macario, Alex Morgan and Trinity Rodman.

Last year’s winner, Alexia Putellas, is one of five Barcelona players on the list despite suffering a serious knee injury on the eve of this summer’s European Championships. There are also spots for three players who helped England to Euros glory, Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze and Beth Mead.

The big surprise, though, came in the men’s nominees where Messi’s run of 15 consecutive nominations, featuring seven wins, came to an end after a disappointing first season at PSG following his shock move from Barcelona last year. The 35-year-old scored just 11 goals in all competitions last season.

France international Benzema has enjoyed a sensational year after playing an influential role in helping Madrid win the LaLiga and Champions League double last season.

The 34-year-old finished the 2021-22 campaign as LaLiga top scorer with 27 goals while he scored in every Champions League knockout round, and just missed out on scoring in the final after seeing a goal disallowed.

He also picked up silverware on the international stage after helping France clinch the UEFA Nations League in October with a goal in the 2-1 victory over Spain.

The striker is the favourite to pick up the Ballon d’Or after the award decided to undergo radical changes this year.

Messi’s 2021 selection over Lewandowski was a controversial pick in the eyes of the football world, and France Football later announced that the award period will fall in line with the main European season rather than entire calendar year.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has also been nominated for the award after a stellar campaign. The forward shared the Premier League Golden Boot with fellow Ballon d’Or nominee Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-Min and was named the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year. He also took the top honour from the Football Writers’ Association.

The list of women’s nominees also features five players who helped Lyon defeat Barcelona to win the Champions League last season. As well as Macario, there is recognition for Selma Bacha, Christiane Endler, Aga Hegerberg and Wendie Renard.

Germany leads the way with three nominees for the Kopa Trophy, which celebrates the best men’s players under the age of 21. Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi, Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz all make the list, as does England duo Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka as well as Real Madrid’s Champions League winner Eduardo Camavinga and Barcelona wonderkid Gavi.

Real Madrid’s Champions League final hero Thibaut Courtois leads the nominees for the Yachine Trophy given to the best goalkeeper.

Ballon d’Or nominees


  • Trent Alexander-Arnold
  • Karim Benzema
  • Joao Cancelo
  • Casemiro
  • Thibaut Courtois
  • Cristiano Ronaldo
  • Kevin De Bruyne
  • Luis Diaz
  • Fabinho
  • Phil Foden
  • Erling Haaland
  • Sebastian Haller
  • Harry Kane
  • Joshua Kimmich
  • Rafael Leao
  • Robert Lewandowski
  • Riyad Mahrez
  • Mike Maignan
  • Sadio Mane
  • Kylian Mbappe
  • Luka Modric
  • Christopher Nkunku
  • Darwin Nunez
  • Antonio Rudiger
  • Mohamed Salah
  • Bernardo Silva
  • Son Heung-min
  • Virgil van Dijk
  • Vinicius Jr.
  • Dusan Vlahovic

Ballon d’Or Feminin nominees


  • Selma Bacha
  • Aitana Bonmati
  • Millie Bright
  • Lucy Bronze
  • Kadidiatou Diani
  • Christiane Endler
  • Ada Hegerberg
  • Marie-Antoinette Katoto
  • Sam Kerr
  • Catarina Macario
  • Beth Mead
  • Vivianne Miedema
  • Alex Morgan
  • Lena Oberdorf
  • Asisat Oshoala
  • Alexandra Popp
  • Alexia Putellas
  • Wendie Renard
  • Trinity Rodman
  • Fridolina Rolfo

Kopa Trophy nominees


  • Karim Adeyemi
  • Jude Bellingham
  • Eduardo Camavinga
  • Gavi
  • Ryan Gravenberch
  • Nuno Mendes
  • Jamal Musiala
  • Josko Gvardiol
  • Bukayo Saka
  • Florian Wirtz

Yachine Trophy nominees


  • Yassine Bounou
  • Alisson Becker
  • Thibaut Courtois
  • Ederson
  • Mika Maignan
  • Edouard Mendy
  • Manuel Neuer
  • Jan Oblak
  • Kevin Trapp
  • Hugo Lloris


Get More Stories Like This On: Facebook: @AllNaijaEntertainment, Twitter: @AllNaijaEntertainment
Expanding Living Space
Lifestyle2 months ago

Expanding Living Space: Prefabricated Workshop Building Kits for Extra Rooms

BeBe Winans
Lyrics2 months ago

BeBe Winans – It All Comes Down to Love [Lyrics]

BeBe Winans
Music2 months ago

[Music] BeBe Winans – It All Comes Down to Love

The Countdown Begins to the Tournament That Has It All
ANE Football Analytical2 months ago

AFCON 2023: A Sporting Spectacle Set to Captivate the World

Litecoin: What Makes It The Crypto Winner?
Technology3 months ago

Runny Inflation Can Drive Cryptocurrency Adoption

Black and White French Bulldog puppies Frenchie Joy
Lifestyle4 months ago

Black and White French Bulldog puppies Frenchie Joy

3 Serious Reasons to Keep Your Teenager Away From Social Media
Lifestyle4 months ago

3 Serious Reasons to Keep Your Teenager Away From Social Media

Boxing vs MMA What Makes Them So Different
Sports5 months ago

Boxing vs MMA: What Makes Them So Different

Roisea: Most Advanced Crypto Trading Platform for Bitcoin
Technology5 months ago

NFTs and Intellectual Property Rights: Shaping Creative Ownership

The Birth of a Rugby Nation South Africas Love Affair with the Sport
Sports9 months ago

The Birth of a Rugby Nation: South Africa’s Love Affair with the Sport

A Beginner's Guide to Radicle (RAD): The Future of Peer-to-Peer Development
Technology10 months ago

A Beginner’s Guide to Radicle (RAD): The Future of Peer-to-Peer Development

Analysis of Nigeria's Renewable Energy Sector: Opportunities and Challenges
Technology11 months ago

Analysis of Nigeria’s Renewable Energy Sector: Opportunities and Challenges

Casino Gaming Poker
Sports11 months ago

What Are The Various Types Of Online Slots?

Luka Modric celebrates after scoring Real Madrid's second goal against Celta Vigo.
Sports1 year ago

Luka Modric set to join Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr

WHO World Health Organization
Health1 year ago

WHO debunks claims that tuberculosis is caused by witchcraft, poison

Atiku Abubakar
News1 year ago

2023 Election: Why DSS must arrest Fani-Kayode – Atiku

PDP Logo Umbrella
News1 year ago

PDP suspends National Chairman

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Final Episode 13)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 12)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 11)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 10)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 09)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 08)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 07)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 06)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 05)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 04)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 03)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 02)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 01)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Complete Episodes)

Papa Loves His Girls by Opeyemi Ojerinde Akintunde_ANE Stories
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] PAPA LOVES HIS GIRLS (Episode 16)

Papa Loves His Girls by Opeyemi Ojerinde Akintunde_ANE Stories
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] PAPA LOVES HIS GIRLS (Episode 15)

Papa Loves His Girls by Opeyemi Ojerinde Akintunde_ANE Stories
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] PAPA LOVES HIS GIRLS (Episode 14)

Papa Loves His Girls by Opeyemi Ojerinde Akintunde_ANE Stories
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] PAPA LOVES HIS GIRLS (Episode 13)

Papa Loves His Girls by Opeyemi Ojerinde Akintunde_ANE Stories
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] PAPA LOVES HIS GIRLS (Episode 12)

Papa Loves His Girls by Opeyemi Ojerinde Akintunde_ANE Stories
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] PAPA LOVES HIS GIRLS (Episode 11)

Papa Loves His Girls by Opeyemi Ojerinde Akintunde_ANE Stories
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] PAPA LOVES HIS GIRLS (Episode 10)

Papa Loves His Girls by Opeyemi Ojerinde Akintunde_ANE Stories
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] PAPA LOVES HIS GIRLS (Episode 09)

Papa Loves His Girls by Opeyemi Ojerinde Akintunde_ANE Stories
ANE Stories1 year ago

[STORY] PAPA LOVES HIS GIRLS (Episode 08)

ANE Billboard Hots