Following the release of the full list of Ballon d'Or nominees for 2024, Real Madrid's Rodrygo took to social media and fans picked up on it instantly.
Lionel Messi won the award for the eighth time last year, following his timeless performances in leading Argentina to their third World Cup victory in Qatar.
For only the second time in history, the award was based on the season from August to July, rather than the calendar year, enabling Messi to secure the title with 462 points.
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Despite being the holder of the award the Inter Miami star was left out of nominations this year alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, making 2024 the first year since 2003 that neither player has been nominated.
While not seeing the two faces amongst the nominees certainly feels odd, it's the absence of Rodrygo that has caused a particular stir with fans and the Brazil international appeared to take to Instagram to vent his frustrations.
Following the announcement of the nominees, the Brazilian posted a collage of his 2023/24 season including himself holding the Champions League trophy to instagram alongside a laughing emoji.
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A screengrab of the story was subsequently posted on social media platform X and reposted by the 23-year-old's teammate Jude Bellingham who appeared to also be shocked by the decision.
Rodrygo was a key figure for Carlo Ancelotti last season scoring 10 goals and providing five assists in 28 La Liga starts.
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Fans on social media have reacted to Rodrygo's emission
One fan wrote: "This is unfair and a shame for football . How ? Rodrygo has proven himself as one of the best players in football, so excluding his name from the ballon d'or nominees is something that I'm not gonna accept."
Another added: "Balon D'or has lost it's value, it's now a popularity contest coz why was the likes of Odegaard, Declan Rice, Yamal, Nico Williams, nominated but not Mo Salah, Rodrygo, KDB nominated."
Men's Ballon d'Or award shortlist in full
Antonio Rudiger - Real Madrid
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Kylian Mbappe - Real Madrid
Lautaro Martinez - Inter
Ademola Lookman - Atalanta
Alejandro Grimaldo - Bayer Leverkusen
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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
Topics: Real Madrid, Rodrygo, Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jude Bellingham, Carlo Ancelotti, Fan Reactions
Tom Jenkins