Ronaldo in, Messi OUT: 2022 Ballon d'Or shortlist revealed

FT Desk

• Updated: 13 Aug 2022 13:45 BST
• 3 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo made the cut but Ballon d'Or holder Lionel Messi was a shock absence as France Football revealed the nominees for this year's award.

The Argentine received his seventh award last year over Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho, making him the first footballer in history ever to accumulate that many.

But he will not be adding an eighth this time round, while Ronaldo starts as an outside bet to lift his sixth at the end of 2022.

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France Football revealed its list of 30 players who will be in consideration for the Ballon d'Or on Friday.

The award ceremony has been pushed forward this year to October 17 due to the World Cup in Qatar, and only takes into account performances during the 2021-22 season.

As well as Messi, the legend's Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Neymar is also missing from the shortlist, though fellow PSG ace Kylian Mbappe makes the cut as the French side's only representative.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, is acknowledged despite Manchester United's disappointing sixth-placed finish in the Premier League last term and is also the sole Red Devil to make the cut.

Unsurprisingly Real Madrid dominate the list following their Liga-Champions League double, with no fewer than six Blancos nominated - including Karim Benzema, runaway favourite to win his first Ballon d'Or.

Liverpool and Manchester City also contribute six players each, including two new signings: Darwin Nunez and Erling Haaland, recognised for the sparkling seasons they enjoyed for Benfica and Borussia Dortmund respectively.

The full list of Ballon d'Or nominees