Lionel Messi, one of the most decorated footballers in history, will not win the prestigious Ballon d'Or this year after being left off the list of 30 nominees revealed by organizers on Wednesday.
This decision comes as a surprise to many, given Messi's remarkable achievement last year when he claimed his eighth Ballon d'Or following his instrumental role in leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar.
However, despite winning another international title with Argentina at the Copa America in July, the 37-year-old has not been nominated for the 2024 award.
Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS) after an illustrious career at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), has experienced a shift in focus toward his twilight years in football
His omission from the 2024 nominees comes two years after he was also left out of the 2022 list, when Real Madrid's Karim Benzema took home the award.
Though Messi's achievements remain unrivaled, especially with his record-breaking eight Ballon d'Or titles, the omission signals the end of an era in his Ballon d'Or journey.
The Ballon d'Or, awarded annually by France Football, remains the most prestigious individual honor in the sport
Voted on by a jury of journalists from the top 100 countries in FIFA's world ranking, the award recognizes the best male and female footballers globally based on their performances over the previous season.
With Messi absent from the nominees, the spotlight now shifts to a new generation of football stars, many of whom are poised to claim the coveted award.
Brazil's Vinicius Junior, one of the standout performers for Real Madrid, is among the favorites. Vinicius had a stellar season,
contributing significantly to Real Madrid's success in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.