Ronaldo and Messi Absent from 2024 Ballon d'Or Nominees

For the first time since 2003, neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi are nominated for the Ballon d'Or award. England's Jude Bellingham is among the 30 nominees. Spain and England have strong representations, and the ceremony will take place on Oct. 28 in Paris.

For the first time since 2003, the iconic figures Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have not been included in the Ballon d'Or nominees. England's rising star Jude Bellingham leads the 30-player list announced on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in the football landscape.

Spain, the Euro 2024 champions, boast six players among the nominees, including Barcelona's 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal. Real Madrid, who recently signed Kylian Mbappe, have a robust seven-player representation including Bellingham and Brazil's Vinicius Junior.

The English squad, which finished as runners-up at Euro 2024, also has strong representation with Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, and Phil Foden. In the women's category, Barcelona, the Champions League winners, have dominated with six nominees, including Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas. The awards ceremony will be held on Oct. 28 in Paris.

(With inputs from agencies.)