Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi not on Ballon d'Or nominee list for first time since 2003

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are left off the 2024 Ballon d'Or nominee list for the first time in 20 years.

For the first time in 20 years, both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been omitted from the Ballon d'Or nominee list. The 2024 list, revealed on Wednesday, includes many of football's current stars, but it notably excludes two players who have dominated the award for over a decade. This marks the first time since 2003 that neither Messi nor Ronaldo is in contention for the prestigious trophy.Sports journalist Fabrizio Romano shared the news on Twitter, highlighting the significance of the moment for football fans.

🚨 OFFICIAL: Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi, out of the Ballon d’Or nominees for the first time since 2003. pic.twitter.com/ROmuQ3Wa5j

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 4, 2024

The omission of Messi, who won his eighth Ballon d'Or in 2022, and Ronaldo, a five-time winner, signals the end of an era. From 2008 to 2018, the two superstars dominated the award, with no other player claiming the prize until Luka Modric broke the streak in 2019. The duo’s presence in the competition has been a constant for nearly two decades, making this year's list especially striking​.

Both players have since moved away from European football, with Messi now playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer and Ronaldo representing Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Their absence from the nominees reflects their new stages in their careers, far from the European spotlight where their rivalry first took shape.

As the Ballon d'Or prepares to crown a new winner, this development closes a chapter on a historic era in football history.