The nominees for the 2023 Ballon d’Or were announced on Wednesday evening with France Football magazine revealing the nominees included on the list for this year’s award. Sixty players have found themselves in the running; 30 for the men’s award and 30 for the women’s award. Among the men’s players nominated are Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé.
Months after inspiring Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, Lionel Messi also finds himself included after being left off the 2022 Ballon d’Or list entirely. Harry Kane has also received a nod, as have Arsenal duo Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.
HERE ARE ALL THE BALLON D’OR NOMINEES! 🌕✨#ballondor pic.twitter.com/hg1ZByzhDV
— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@ballondor) September 6, 2023
However, there is one name that stands as a glaring omission in Cristiano Ronaldo, the second most decorated player in the history of the Ballon d’Or, who has failed to make the award list for the first time in two decades.
Indeed, the last time Ronaldo was not included as a nominee was 2003 during the very first season of his first stint as a Manchester United player. Here are a list of facts to help put that astonishing 20-year nomination streak into a bit of…
