Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo was not nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or award for the first time since 2003.
Ronaldo’s omission from the shortlist has been met with mixed reactions. Some people believe that it is justified, given his performances in the 2022/23 season. Others believe that it is unfair, and that Ronaldo is still one of the best players in the world.
There are a number of reasons why Ronaldo may have been overlooked for the award. One reason is that he moved to Al Nassr in January 2023, which took him out of the European spotlight. The Saudi Pro League is not as competitive as the top European leagues, and Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr was seen by some as a sign that he was declining.
Another reason for Ronaldo’s omission may be that he had a relatively quiet season. He scored 26 goals in 33 appearances for Al Nassr, but he did not win any major trophies with the club. He also missed a number of games due to injury.
Of course, it is also possible that Ronaldo was simply not considered to be one of the best players in the world in 2022/23. There were a number of other players who performed at a high level, and Ronaldo may have simply been edged out by them.
Whatever the reason for his omission, Ronaldo’s absence from the Ballon d’Or shortlist is a significant milestone. He is one of the greatest players of all time, and his absence from the award is a reminder that even the best players can decline.
Lionel Messi tipped to win 2023 Ballon d’Or
Lionel Messi is the favorite to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or Award. He led Argentina to their third World Cup title in Qatar in 2022, and he also won a second Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi has won the Ballon d’Or a record seven times, and he is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time. He is still performing at a high level, and he is the most likely player to win the award in 2023.
Messi’s main competition for the award is likely to come from Erling Haaland. Haaland had a phenomenal goalscoring season in 2022/23, helping Manchester City to win the treble. However, Messi’s World Cup win is likely to give him the edge in the voting.
Other players who could potentially challenge for the award include Kevin De Bruyne, Kylian Mbappé, and Karim Benzema. However, Messi is the clear favorite, and it would be a major surprise if he did not win the award.
The 2023 Ballon d’Or Award will be announced on October 30th in Paris.
