The most nominated players for the Ballon d’Or award.
The Argentine Lionel Messi and the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo were absent from the list of nominees for the 2024 Ballon d'Or, which was announced by *France Football* magazine and included 30 players.
This is the first time in 21 years that both legends, Messi and his traditional rival Ronaldo, are absent from the list together. It is also the second time since 2005 that "La Pulga", who currently plays for Inter Miami, has been left out of the nominees for football's most prestigious individual award.
As for Ronaldo (39 years old), who left Europe to join Saudi club Al-Nassr in 2023, he has been absent from the list for the second consecutive year. However, the "Madeira Rocket" still holds the record for the most nominations for the Ballon d'Or since its inception in 1956.
On the other hand, "La Pulga" leads the list of Ballon d'Or winners, having claimed the award eight times, followed by Ronaldo with five titles.
The Ballon d'Or is an annual award presented by *France Football* to the best football player in the world. The award was first presented in 1956, and it was won by English player Stanley Matthews.
Initially, the award was given only to European players, but in 1995, the rules were changed to allow players active in European clubs to be eligible. Liberian George Weah became the first non-European player to win the award in 1995.
In 2007, the award expanded to include all players worldwide, no longer restricted to professionals in European clubs.