Messi and Ronaldo Snubbed: The Shocking Reason Behind Their 2025 Ballon d'Or Absence
When discussing the Ballon d'Or, two names inevitably dominate the conversation: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
These football icons have claimed the prestigious award 13 times between them, establishing themselves as the most successful recipients in the trophy's history. The annual Ballon d'Or ceremony honors and acknowledges football's finest talents based on their performances throughout the previous campaign.
The upcoming ceremony will represent the 69th presentation of the Ballon d'Or award. From its establishment in 1956, the "Golden Ball" has continuously grown in stature and importance. In essence, the Ballon d'Or represents an accolade typically reserved for the sport's greatest legends, a distinguished group where Messi and Ronaldo arguably stand at the forefront.
However, as both superstars approach the final chapters of their illustrious careers, there appears to be a definitive transition occurring, introducing a fresh chapter in Ballon d'Or legacy. For 2025, neither Messi nor Ronaldo received nominations for the coveted award.
The Reasons Behind Messi and Ronaldo's Absence from the 2025 Ballon d'Or Nominations
This marks the second consecutive year that both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been excluded from the 30-player nomination list for the Ballon d'Or.
Either Messi or Ronaldo had featured among the nominees consistently since 2003. The previous year brought an end to this remarkable 20-year run.
The 2025 Ballon d'Or nominations exclusively featured players from Europe's elite leagues—with the exception of Arsenal's Viktor Gyökeres, who earned recognition for his displays with Sporting CP in Portugal.
Given Messi's presence in Major League Soccer and Ronaldo's stint in the Saudi Pro League, their nomination prospects were considerably limited.
Both players maintained their competitive edge, however, delivering remarkable statistics despite their advancing years. Messi contributed 30 goals and 13 assists across 37 matches for Inter Miami. Meanwhile, Ronaldo netted 35 goals in 41 appearances for Al Nassr while adding three strikes during Portugal's successful 2025 UEFA Nations League campaign. Despite these achievements, their performances were considered insufficient for Ballon d'Or recognition.
Between 2008 and 2017, Messi and Ronaldo each claimed five Ballon d'Or titles, monopolizing the award throughout that decade. The Argentine genius subsequently added three more victories in 2019, 2021, and 2023. Notably, Messi's most recent triumph came while representing Inter Miami, though it was largely attributed to his 2022 FIFA World Cup success with Argentina.
While both players missed out on nominations this year, should Portugal or Argentina capture the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there remains a genuine possibility of their return to contention for the 70th Ballon d'Or celebration.