Lionel Messi lifted a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or in Paris last year but the Inter Miami superstar will not be able to defend his trophy.
Messi was left off France Football’s 2024 shortlist for the most coveted individual award in men’s football.
This was also the case in 2022, with Karim Benzema claiming glory as Messi’s underwhelming stint at Paris Saint-Germain wound down, but this looks like a more permanent exit from a stage the 37-year-old has made his own.
The criteria for the 2023 Ballon d’Or changed from the calendar year in question to the previous European season, meaning Messi’s 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph with Argentina was able to get him over the line ahead of Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland last time around.
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MLS operating on a calendar year schedule means Messi is out of step with the other predominantly European-based contenders when it comes to amassing achievements that might be considered Ballon d’Or worthy.
Even Argentina retaining their Copa America crown this year was not enough to win him recognition, although Albiceleste teammates Emiliano Martinez and Lautaro Martinez are among those on the 30-man shortlist.
For the second consecutive year, Messi’s great rival Cristiano Ronaldo was not included, incredibly making it the first time since 2003 that neither era-defining superstar has been nominated.
Ballon d'Or nominees 2024
| Player | Club | National team |
| Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid | England |
| Ruben Dias | Manchester City | Portugal |
| Phil Foden | Manchester City | England |
| Federico Valverde | Real Madrid | Uruguay |
| Emiliano Martinez | Aston Villa | Argentina |
| Erling Haaland | Manchester City | Norway |
| Nico Williams | Athletic Club | Spain |
| Granit Xhaka | Bayer Leverkusen | Switzerland |
| Artem Dovbyk | Roma* | Ukraine |
| Toni Kroos | Real Madrid** | Germany |
| Vinicius Junior | Real Madrid | Brazil |
| Dani Olmo | Barcelona*** | Spain |
| Florian Wirtz | Bayer Leverkusen | Germany |
| Martin Odegaard | Arsenal | Norway |
| Mats Hummels | Borussia Dortmund**** | Germany |
| Rodri | Manchester City | Spain |
| Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | England |
| Declan Rice | Arsenal | England |
| Vitinha | PSG | Portugal |
| Cole Palmer | Chelsea | England |
| Dani Carvajal | Real Madrid | Spain |
| Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | Spain |
| Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | England |
| Hakan Calhanoglu | Inter Milan | Turkey |
| William Saliba | Arsenal | France |
| Kylian Mbappe | Real Madrid***** | France |
| Lautaro Martinez | Inter Milan | Argentina |
| Ademola Lookman | Atalanta | Nigeria |
| Antonio Rudiger | Real Madrid | Germany |
| Alejandro Grimaldo | Bayer Leverkusen | Spain |
*Transferred from Girona in August 2024
**Retired from football in July 2024
***Transferred from RB Leipzig in August 2024
****Became a free agent after leaving Dortmund in June 2024
*****Transferred to Real Madrid after leaving PSG in July 2024