End of an Era: Messi and Ronaldo Left Out of the Ballon d'Or Nominee List

2024 has become a significant year for the football world — for the first time in 21 years, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were not included in the list of contenders for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award. This news hit like a bolt out of the blue for their fans, as these football legends have dominated the award scene since 2003, winning and astonishing fans worldwide.

2024 has become a significant year for the football world — for the first time in 21 years, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were not included in the list of contenders for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award. This news hit like a bolt out of the blue for their fans, as these football legends have dominated the award scene since 2003, winning and astonishing fans worldwide.

The 39-year-old Ronaldo and 37-year-old Messi have collected an impressive array of Ballon d'Or titles — five for the Portuguese and a whopping eight for the Argentine. But as they say, times change. Today, new stars are rising to the top, like Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, French talent Kylian Mbappé, and Spain's young sensation Lamine Yamal.

By missing this year’s list, Messi and Ronaldo have shown that their careers are heading in a new direction. Cristiano shines in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, while Lionel is making waves in America with Inter Miami. Both have moved to leagues less familiar to European audiences, but it hasn't stopped them from continuing to create magic on the field. However, the fact remains — their time in the Ballon d'Or race might be over.

Still, the football world will always remember their names, and a new wave of players is already vying for the top spot. Who knows, maybe among them is someone who can partially follow in the footsteps of the greats Messi and Ronaldo? But one thing is clear — the era where the Ballon d'Or was virtually guaranteed to these two has officially ended.