This is the second time since 2005 that Messi, 37, who won the Golden Ball last year for the eighth time, has been absent from the race to win the most prestigious individual award in the world of football.
The award is given after voting by a jury of journalists representing the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings.
The former Barcelona legend, who won the Qatar 2022 World Cup with his country and is currently playing in the American League with Inter Miami, was absent from the list of candidates for the award in 2022 when it went to Frenchman Karim Benzema.
Despite Messi’s absence, his season was not disappointing with the “Albiceleste” team after leading them to retain the Copa America title this year after 2021, but his influence faded in this edition, when he was forced to leave the field due to an ankle injury after 66 minutes of the final whistle, which ended with a 1-0 victory over Colombia after extra time.
Ronaldo’s absence
Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo (39 years old), who left the old continent to join the Saudi Al-Nasr team in 2023, was absent from the list for the second year in a row, noting that this is the first time that the Portuguese and his Argentine rival have been absent from the ceremony together in 21 years, specifically since 2003.
Vinicius
Real Madrid’s Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior appears to be among the most prominent candidates to raise the Golden Ball for the first time in his career at the ceremony scheduled for next October 28 in Paris, after leading the royal club to its fifteenth title in the main continental competition.
Fierce confrontation
Vinicius Junior faces competition from several of his Real Madrid teammates, including England’s Jude Bellingham, Uruguayan Fede Valverde, retired German Toni Kroos and his compatriot Antonio Rudiger, in addition to the new arrival this summer from Paris Saint-Germain, Frenchman Kylian Mbappe.
Norwegian striker Erling Haaland’s stock is rising in competition with Vinicius after his brilliance last season and leading Manchester City to its fourth consecutive league title.
The list also included English striker Harry Kane despite losing the European Cup final to Spain 1-2, along with a large number of continental champions such as Dani Carvajal, Alejandro Grimaldo, Dani Olmo, Rodri, Nico Williams and Lamine Jamal.
Coaches
The list of coaches included the Spaniard Xabi Alonso, who won the German league title with Bayer Leverkusen without losing in a unique achievement, the Italian Carlo Ancelotti, the godfather of Real Madrid’s victory in the league and Champions League double, and the coach of the Spanish national team, Luis de la Fuente.
Also competing for the Golden Ball are Italian Gian Piero Gasperini, coach of Atalanta, winner of the Europa League, after inflicting Leverkusen’s only loss in all competitions last season, Spaniard Pep Guardiola and Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni.
Ladies
Among the women, Spain’s Aitana Bonmati is among the favourites to retain the Ballon d’Or, while her Barcelona teammate Alexia Bonillas hopes to extend her tally to three Ballons d’Or after winning them in 2021 and 2022.
Norway’s Ada Hegerberg, winner of the first edition of the Women’s Ballon d’Or in 2018, is also nominated, along with five players from the United States team that won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics: Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, Lindsey Horan and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
