Ronaldo and Messi’s absence from Ballon d’Or nominees: End of an Era?
By Okezie Omorogie
In a stunning shift that signals the close of one of football’s most legendary rivalries, neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi is among the top contenders for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, an award they have dominated for more than a decade. For the first time in years, football’s two global icons find themselves watching from the sidelines as new faces take center stage.
The Ballon d’Or has long been synonymous with the names Ronaldo and Messi, who have won the prestigious individual male award a combined 13 times; Messi securing eight and Ronaldo five. Since 2008, they have defined an era of football, pushing each other to new heights and crafting a rivalry that captivated millions around the globe.
But 2024 marks a changing of the guard. While Messi won the 2024 Copa America with Argentina and Ronaldo continues his career in Saudi Arabia Pro-League with Al-Nassr, the football landscape has shifted dramatically, allowing younger talents like Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Vini Junior and Jude Bellingham to steal headlines, media spotlights and compete for football’s most prestigious award.
Vini, in particular, has been hailed as one of the frontrunners for the 2024 Ballon d’Or. The 24-year-old Brazillian left-winger’s prolific goal-contribution record as well as incredible match performances for Spanish football giant Real Madrid, including leading them to their 15th champions league title in the 2023-2024 season, makes him a strong candidate to dethrone the Messi-Ronaldo era. Mbappé, too, continues to impress with his electric performances for former club, Paris Saint-Germain, the French national team and seemingly good performances for Real Madrid, as he solidifies his claim to the throne once held by the legendary duo.
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Meanwhile, Messi’s triumph in the 2022 World Cup may have represented the pinnacle of his international career, but his move to Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami, while successful on a personal level, has seen him step away from Europe’s most competitive leagues. Ronaldo, now playing in Saudi Arabia, remains an iconic figure, but his competitive relevance at the top tier of world football has arguably diminished.
The absence of Messi and Ronaldo from the top contenders list feels almost surreal for football fans who have grown up in the shadow of their greatness. From 2008 to 2023, only Luka Modrić in 2018 broke their grip on the award. Their legacies are firmly cemented in football history, but the current generation of stars seems ready to write the next chapter.
For years, comparisons between the two dominated headlines; each goal, assist, and trophy meticulously scrutinized in the context of their rivalry. Ronaldo, the embodiment of power, athleticism, and work ethic, versus Messi, the magician with vision, skill, and finesse. Their battles in Spain, with Ronaldo at Real Madrid and Messi at Barcelona, were the stuff of legend, culminating in El Clasico clashes that transcended football entirely.
While Messi and Ronaldo may no longer be among the top contenders, their influence on the game will be felt for decades to come. For now, though, the football world is witnessing the rise of new heroes, with players like Haaland, Mbappé, and others defining the future of the sport.
As the Ballon d’Or enters this new chapter, fans may feel nostalgic for the days when Messi and Ronaldo reigned supreme, but the prospect of fresh rivalries and stories promises to be equally exciting. Besides, as commonly said; all good things do come to an end and every era has its end; but in football, there’s always a new one waiting to begin.
