Featured Image Credit: Record & Getty
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi, Football, Al Nassr
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi, Football, Al Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo previously claimed that the Ballon d'Or is losing its credibility after he failed to make the shortlist for the award.
The nominations for the 2024 award were announced on Wednesday night by France Football, with 30 of the world's best players put forward for the top individual prize in men's football.
Al Nassr star Ronaldo, who has won the award five times previously, did not make the cut - despite scoring 44 goals in all competitions for the Saudi Pro League club last season.
Advert
His great rival Lionel Messi, who himself has won the Ballon d'Or a record eight times - including last year, was also a notable omission from the 2024 shortlist.
It is the first time since 2003 that neither Messi nor Ronaldo has been included in the nominations for the award.
Speaking last year, Ronaldo claimed both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA The Best awards were 'losing credibility'.
Advert
His comments came after he was left out of the nominees despite scoring 54 goals in the calendar year, making him the top scorer in world football for 2023.
"It's not to say that Messi didn't deserve it, or [Erling] Haaland or even [Kylian] Mbappe… but the numbers are there and the numbers don't deceive. You have to consider the entire season," Ronaldo told Record.
"The numbers are facts. If you go back and see what happened at Manchester United and the national team, people actually considered me lost... but the truth is that I focused and had a great period at Al Nassr, that's why I scored 54 goals.
Advert
"As long as my head and body are fine, and I enjoy football, I will continue to play. Right now, I feel good, I feel fulfilled and happy on the field, both in the national team and at the club.
"I'm doing what I like most: goals and good performances."
Ronaldo and Messi are yet to comment on not making the cut for the 2024 Ballon d'Or award, which is now set to be won by a player for their first time in their career.
Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr is the current favourite to win the award, with Manchester City's Rodri and another Madrid player – Jude Bellingham – also fancied by the bookmakers.
Antonio Rudiger - Real Madrid
Advert
Kylian Mbappe - Real Madrid
Lautaro Martinez - Inter
Ademola Lookman - Atalanta
Alejandro Grimaldo - Bayer Leverkusen
Advert
Dani Carvajal - Real Madrid
William Saliba - Arsenal
Lamine Yamal - Barcelona
Bukayo Saka - Arsenal
Hakan Calhanoglu - Inter
Rodri - Man City
Declan Rice - Arsenal
Harry Kane - Bayern Munich
Cole Palmer - Chelsea
Vitinha - PSG
Vinicius Jr - Real Madrid
Martin Odegaard - Arsenal
Dani Olmo - Barcelona
Florian Wirtz - Bayer Leverkusen
Mats Hummels - Roma
Erling Haaland - Man City
Nicolas Williams - Athletic Bilbao
Granit Xhaka - Bayer Leverkusen
Artem Dovbik - Roma
Toni Kroos - Real Madrid
Jude Bellingham - Real Madrid
Phil Foden - Man City
Ruben Dias - Man City
Federico Valverde - Real Madrid
Emiliano Martinez - Aston VIlla