Argentina’s Leo Messi (PSG and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner) and Brazil’s Neymar (PSG) are notable absentees from the 30-man list of nominees for this prestigious award. French football Next is October 17.
In the sixth and final batch of nominees, Frenchman Kylian Mbappe (PSG) was among the nominees.
The absence of Messi, the reigning winner of the award, was a big surprise, while the regular Neymar was also a low profile among the nominees. The 35-year-old Argentine is the most successful in the history of the award, having won the Ballon d’Or in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.
In his 2021–2022 season, his PSG debut after a career at Barcelona, Messi scored six goals and provided 15 assists in 26 league appearances and five goals in seven Champions League appearances.
This year’s list includes another classic of the award, Cristiano Ronaldo (a five-time winner).
Among the thirty nominees published by French football Out of six rounds, Frenchman Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) stands out and is the favorite for the award.
