Top names excluded from 2024 Ballon d’Or List
The 2024 Ballon d’Or shortlist has been revealed, and while many big players made the list, there are some top names excluded from 2024 Ballon d’Or List. These players had great seasons, and their absence has raised a lot of questions.
We review some of the most notable players who were excluded from this year’s Ballon d’Or and Yashin Trophy lists.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
For the first time since 2003, neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo has been included in the Ballon d’Or shortlist, marking the end of an era. Their absence symbolizes a shift in the football world, as younger players now take the spotlight.
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Mohamed Salah had another impressive season with Liverpool, scoring 19 goals and providing 12 assists in the Premier League. Salah has been one of the most consistent forwards in the world, and his exclusion from the list came as a surprise to many. Although Liverpool didn’t win any major trophies last season, Salah’s individual performances remained top-notch.
Rodrygo (Brazil)
Rodrygo, the Brazilian forward for Real Madrid, also missed out. Last season, he scored 9 goals in La Liga and played a key role in Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign, scoring some crucial goals along the way. Rodrygo has been improving year after year, but the competition for forward spots on the Ballon d’Or list was tough, leading to his exclusion.
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Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
Kevin De Bruyne was a central figure in Manchester City’s historic treble-winning season. De Bruyne provided 16 assists and scored 7 goals in the Premier League, helping City win the league, FA Cup, and Champions League. Despite his major contributions, he didn’t make the list, possibly due to an injury that limited his playing time towards the end of the season.
Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Another surprising omission from the 2024 Ballon d’Or shortlist is Robert Lewandowski, a striker who has been a regular contender for the award in recent years. Despite his consistent performances, Lewandowski didn’t make the cut this year, leaving fans wondering what went wrong.
Lewandowski scored 13 goals in 30 La Liga matches. While this tally is lower than his previous seasons, it still made him one of the top performers in the league. In total, across all competitions, he netted 20 goals in 46 appearances for Barcelona, showcasing his goal-scoring ability even as he dealt with some injury issues throughout the season.
Victor Boniface (Nigeria)
Victor Boniface, the Nigerian striker for Bayer Leverkusen, had a breakout season in the Bundesliga. Boniface scored 14 goals in all competitions and quickly became one of the top young forwards in Europe. His pace, power, and goal-scoring ability have made him one to watch, but despite his rise, he was left out of the Ballon d’Or conversation this year.
Interestingly, no Premier League goalkeeper was nominated for the 2024 Yashin Trophy, which honors the best goalkeeper in the world. This includes Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal and Ederson from Manchester City, both of whom had excellent seasons.
Aaron Ramsdale kept 14 clean sheets in the Premier League last season, helping Arsenal finish second in the league and playing a key role in their solid defensive performances.
Ederson, on the other hand, kept 11 clean sheets and was instrumental in Manchester City’s treble-winning season, including their Champions League triumph. His shot-stopping and ability to distribute the ball were critical to City’s success.
Emi Martinez who was included on the list made the cut for his contribution to the Argentina national team success in the Copa America.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or and Yashin Trophy lists have sparked a lot of debate from who should be included to who should win the prestigious individual award.
Who do you think deserved to be on the 2024 Ballon d’Or or Yashin Trophy lists? Let us know your thoughts on our X (formerly twitter ) handle.
By Francis Blessing
