The annual Ballon d’Or race has typically been a head-to-head battle between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the past 20 years, showcasing their remarkable rivalry for supremacy in football.
Throughout their prime years at Barcelona and Real Madrid, Messi and Ronaldo competed not only for team accolades but also for the title of the world’s best player. From 2011 to 2017, the top two spots in the Ballon d’Or race were consistently occupied by Messi and Ronaldo, until Luka Modric interrupted their reign in 2018. In fact, since 2007, only Modric and Karim Benzema have managed to win the award besides Messi and Ronaldo.
But when was the last time these two iconic players were not even nominated for the Ballon d’Or?
The answer is quite revealing. Messi’s absence from the 2022 nominees marked the first time since 2005 that he was not included in the list. On the other hand, Ronaldo’s exclusion in 2023 meant that he hadn’t made the 30-player shortlist since 2003. Essentially, Messi, Ronaldo, or both of them have been nominated for the Ballon d’Or every year for the past two decades.
It’s important to note the impressive history of Messi’s Ballon d’Or wins and nominations. Since 2005, Messi has been nominated 17 times and has claimed the prestigious award a record seven times. Six of those victories were achieved during his illustrious tenure at Barcelona, while his most recent win in 2021 came while playing for Paris Saint-Germain. Messi also finished as runner-up five times and secured third place once.
Ronaldo’s list of Ballon d’Or nominations is even more extensive, stretching from 2004 to 2022. This period encompasses his stints at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. With five Ballon d’Or wins, Ronaldo ranks as the second most successful player in the history of the award. Four of his second-place finishes were behind Messi, and he also came second to Kaka in 2007 and Luka Modric in 2018. Ronaldo finished third in 2019 while Messi clinched the top spot.
Given that Messi and Ronaldo are approaching the twilight of their exceptional careers, their moves to non-European clubs in 2023 signify a potential end to their Ballon d’Or era. Ronaldo’s transfer to Al Nassr will likely remove him from contention for the award, which predominantly prioritizes Europe-based players. Meanwhile, Messi’s favorable position to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or is attributed to a change in selection criteria, focusing on the previous season rather than the calendar year. This adjustment allows his remarkable achievement of winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina to factor into the decision. However, there is a strong possibility that 2023 will mark Messi’s final appearance on the Ballon d’Or stage as he embarks on a new chapter with Inter Miami.
Both Messi and Ronaldo express intentions to continue playing until the 2026 World Cup, assuming they can maintain their peak performance. However, it is unlikely that they will return to Europe’s top club competitions. Furthermore, the complications arising from the MLS season, which follows a calendar year schedule unlike the traditional August-May pattern of European leagues, further diminish Messi’s chances. Consequently, 2024 is poised to commence a new era for the Ballon d’Or, with emerging talents like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior vying for the title of the world’s best player.
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