The soccer world is closely watching the 2025 Ballon d’Or nominations to crown the best player of the 2024-25 season, and a historic surprise signals a changing of the guard: neither Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi nor Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo has been shortlisted for the award.

Messi was the last of the two to win the Ballon d’Or, receiving the award in 2023. He is also the player with the most wins, having claimed the honor eight times. Ronaldo, on the other hand, last won the prize in 2017, taking it home for the fifth time in his career.

At 38 years old, Messi is in his third year in MLS with Inter Miami, the club he joined in July 2023. Meanwhile, Ronaldo has already reached 40 and continues to score goals in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr. However, neither player is part of this

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