To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Cristiano Ronaldo claimed Ballon d'Or is 'losing credibility' after being left out of nominees for previous award

Home> Football> Football News

Cristiano Ronaldo claimed Ballon d'Or is 'losing credibility' after being left out of nominees for previous award

Ronaldo hasn't been included on the shortlist for the award for the second successive year.

Cristiano Ronaldo previously claimed that the Ballon d'Or is losing its credibility after he failed to make the shortlist for the award.

The nominations for the 2024 award were announced on Wednesday night by France Football, with 30 of the world's best players put forward for the top individual prize in men's football.

Al Nassr star Ronaldo, who has won the award five times previously, did not make the cut - despite scoring 44 goals in all competitions for the Saudi Pro League club last season.

His great rival Lionel Messi, who himself has won the Ballon d'Or a record eight times - including last year, was also a notable omission from the 2024 shortlist.

It is the first time since 2003 that neither Messi nor Ronaldo has been included in the nominations for the award.

Speaking last year, Ronaldo claimed both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA The Best awards were 'losing credibility'.

His comments came after he was left out of the nominees despite scoring 54 goals in the calendar year, making him the top scorer in world football for 2023.

"It's not to say that Messi didn't deserve it, or [Erling] Haaland or even [Kylian] Mbappe… but the numbers are there and the numbers don't deceive. You have to consider the entire season," Ronaldo told Record.

"The numbers are facts. If you go back and see what happened at Manchester United and the national team, people actually considered me lost... but the truth is that I focused and had a great period at Al Nassr, that's why I scored 54 goals.

Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or five times (Image: Getty)
Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or five times (Image: Getty)

"As long as my head and body are fine, and I enjoy football, I will continue to play. Right now, I feel good, I feel fulfilled and happy on the field, both in the national team and at the club.

"I'm doing what I like most: goals and good performances."

Ronaldo and Messi are yet to comment on not making the cut for the 2024 Ballon d'Or award, which is now set to be won by a player for their first time in their career.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr is the current favourite to win the award, with Manchester City's Rodri and another Madrid player – Jude Bellingham – also fancied by the bookmakers.

Men's Ballon d'Or award shortlist in full

Antonio Rudiger - Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappe - Real Madrid

Lautaro Martinez - Inter

Ademola Lookman - Atalanta

Alejandro Grimaldo - Bayer Leverkusen

Dani Carvajal - Real Madrid

William Saliba - Arsenal

Lamine Yamal - Barcelona

Bukayo Saka - Arsenal

Hakan Calhanoglu - Inter

Rodri - Man City

Declan Rice - Arsenal

Harry Kane - Bayern Munich

Cole Palmer - Chelsea

Vitinha - PSG

Vinicius Jr - Real Madrid

Martin Odegaard - Arsenal

Dani Olmo - Barcelona

Florian Wirtz - Bayer Leverkusen

Mats Hummels - Roma

Erling Haaland - Man City

Nicolas Williams - Athletic Bilbao

Granit Xhaka - Bayer Leverkusen

Artem Dovbik - Roma

Toni Kroos - Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham - Real Madrid

Phil Foden - Man City

Ruben Dias - Man City

Federico Valverde - Real Madrid

Emiliano Martinez - Aston VIlla

Featured Image Credit: Record & Getty

Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi, Football, Al Nassr