Lionel Messi: France Football has announced the top 30 Balon D’or nominees and just like always there were some controversial exclusions. Manchester City’s Erling Halaand and Inter Miami star Lionel Messi are the top 2 names in the nominee list.
Rodri from Manchester City is just behind these two while 2022 winner Karim Benzema was also nominated. In women’s, the last two-time winner Alexia Putellas was not nominated as she was out for the majority of the season because of an injury.
FIFA Women’s World Cup winner Aitana Bonmati and Sam Kerr from Chelsea were the top 2 names on the women’s list. Other nominees include Millie Bright. Bonmati is the top runner for this year’s prize.
Lionel Messi The Frontrunner
Erling Halaand won the UEFA Player Of The Year award a few days back. But it looks like that Lionel Messi is leading the Balon D’or race. Messi won the World Cup with Argentina and was the best player in the tournament.
While Halaand won the club treble with Manchester City being their top scorer. the 30-man shortlist also includes players like Ruben Dias, Vinicius Jr., Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Jude Bellingham.
No Barcelona Players?
The controversy arises when Spanish champions FC Barcelona has only one player in the 30-man shortlist. Robert Lewandowski made the shortlist while their new signing Ilkay Gundogan also made the list. But it was because of his performance for Man City rather than Barcelona.
Marc Andre Ter Stegen made the Spanish record for conceding the fewest goals in the season and was not nominated. While other goalkeepers like Andre Onana, Yassine Bounou, and Emiliano Martinez were shortlisted. It really makes you think about what the criteria for being shortlisted are.
Pedri, Gavi, and Balde had been nominated for the Kopa trophy alongside Real Madrid’s Jude Bellinghman. But when Jamal Musiala from Bayern is getting shortlisted, why not any Barcelona players?
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