Messi and Haaland headline 2023 Ballon d’Or nominees, Ronaldo omitted

Cristiano Ronaldo missed out on a Ballon d’Or nomination for the first time since 2003, falling out of France Football’s 30-man shortlist for the most prestigious individual honor in world football Wednesday.

Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi are the top contenders for the award after achieving career milestones over the last 12 months. Haaland won a continental treble in his first season with Manchester City, scoring 52 goals while breaking the Premier League’s single-season scoring record. Messi powered Argentina to a shootout victory over France in the World Cup final and captured the only major trophy that had eluded him in his career. With six goals and a tournament-high three assists, the 36-year-old also won the Golden Ball as the World Cup’s best player.

Messi is vying for a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or. The winner will be announced during a ceremony

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