“Ballon d’Or losing its credibility” — Ronaldo

The magic of the Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi era is slowly fading and the Ballon d’Or omission marks the sign of an ending era.

For the first time in over two decades, the Ballon d’Or shortlist doesn’t feature two football titans: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Despite his incredible 44-goal haul last season with Al Nassr, Ronaldo finds himself snubbed from the 2024 nominations—a move that’s reigniting the star’s criticism of the award’s credibility.

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Ronaldo’s frustrations are not new. Last year, after bagging a remarkable 54 goals in 2023, he was left off the list as well, leading him to question the integrity of the Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best awards. “The numbers don’t deceive,” Ronaldo remarked in an interview last year, asserting that his achievements with both Al Nassr and the Portuguese national team were unfairly overlooked.

His great rival, Messi, who claimed a record eighth Ballon d’Or just last year, is also a glaring omission from the 2024 race, signaling a changing of the guard in football. With rising stars like Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham, and Manchester City’s Rodri now dominating the conversation, it seems the era of Messi vs. Ronaldo is truly over.

But Ronaldo’s stance that the Ballon d’Or is losing credibility hits home, particularly as it echoes a growing sentiment among fans. With neither of the footballing greats in the running this year, is the Ballon d’Or ready to embrace a new era, or is it leaving its legends behind too soon?

While Messi and Ronaldo remain silent on their latest snub, the football world is watching closely to see who will claim the crown in their absence—and whether this year’s winner will earn the respect of fans the same way the previous kings did.

Is this the dawn of a new football era or a sign the awards are losing their magic?