Leo Messi is not among the 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or. The Inter Miami player, champion of the Copa America with Argentina’s national team, is left out of this list for the first time since 2005. Last year, Cristiano Ronaldo, who had been nominated continuously since 2003, was absent.

It has been several years since football fans began to accept the end of the ‘Messi-Cristiano era’. They are still active, but the absence of both among the 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or 2024 is an important step towards leaving behind a rivalry that has marked several generations. In fact, since 2003, there has not been a nomination without either of them.

On Wednesday, the 30 players who have a chance of winning the coveted award were announced. In the case of the Portuguese, his name was more discarded due to the fact that he was not nominated last year, as well as having played a more than discreet role in the last European Championship.

However, Leo Messi’s name was not ruled out as one of the chosen ones. Despite his departure to Inter Miami of Major League Soccer, the Copa America he won with Argentina gave him the chance to be on the list for the 19th consecutive year, a milestone that the seven-time winner of this trophy will no longer be able to reach.

Messi and Cristiano, in that order, are the players with the most Ballon d’Ors in history. The Argentine won them in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021, while CR7, who has five, won them in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. The third place on the podium is shared by Michael Platini (1983, 1984 and 1985) and Johan Cruyff (1971, 1973 and 1974) with three awards.