At the time, Kylian Mbappé was five years old. Erling Haaland was celebrating his third birthday. And Lamine Yamal wasn’t even born. While all three are indeed on the list of 30 nominees for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, unveiled this Wednesday, they won’t find the names of the two who have long shared the trophy: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. One time you, one time me. Five trophies for the Portuguese. Eight for the Argentinian, including the last one last year after winning the World Cup with the Albiceleste.
Yes, but time passes, the years go by, and both ended up going into exile. CR7 in Saudi Arabia, Messi in the United States. As a result, and for the first time since 2003, they are not in the running to win the prestigious award. The end of an era, the beginning of another. No matter who wins this 2024 vintage, it will be unprecedented. And that is already big news on the football planet. Provided, of course, that it is as beautiful and intense as the previous one.
This is the second time since 2005 that Messi has been ruled out of the running for the Ballo d’Or, which will be awarded after a vote by a jury of journalists representing the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings. The former FC Barcelona legend, who now plays for Inter Miami, had already been rejected in 2022. Messi did, however, lift a second Copa America this year with Argentina (after 2021) but the 37-year-old Albiceleste captain had less impact on his team’s success than in the past, even leaving the final in the 66th minute after an ankle injury. Ronaldo, for his part, could hardly have hoped for more. Already absent from the 30 survivors last year, CR7 failed to take Portugal further than the quarter-finals at the Euro. He didn’t even leave a mark there. Or yes, but not really in a good way.
Mbappé, not again this time?
The other big names in world football are, however, present. Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior, who is the big favourite after Real Madrid’s 15th victory in the Champions League, is there, along with his two teammates Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé. Can the latter, who left PSG on a free at the end of last season, hope to finally win the Grail? It’s hard to imagine. As he turns twenty-six next December, the Parisian native will most likely have to pass on his turn. Once again. Ranked third in the 2023 Ballon d’Or, the best result of his career in the trophy’s list, he may even fall down the rankings.
Mbappé-Vinicius, complementarity in decline? “The problem is not there”, assures Ancelotti
“I’m sure he’ll win many Ballons d’Orhad however reassured his former Parisian coach Luis Enrique last November. I have no doubt about it. Obviously, to win the Ballon d’Or, in addition to the individual performances which are at the maximum level for Kylian, you have to win trophies at club and national level.. We try to win as much as possible in Paris, but Kylian can also have success in the national team. I have no doubt about his level.” Premonitory? Who knows. But the appointment is probably set for the 2025 vintage, at the end of his first Madrid season.
Erling Haaland, English champion with Manchester City, and English striker Harry Kane, unfortunate finalist of Euro 2024, have not been forgotten in this list of 30 candidates. It also gives a large place to the European champions under the jersey of the Roja (Dani Carvajal, Alejandro Grimaldo, Dani Olmo, Rodri, Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal). On the French side, defender William Saliba, very successful at the Euro, is the only one to accompany Mbappé.
