Shocking Snubs: World-Class Soccer Stars Mysteriously Left Off 2025 Ballon d'Or Shortlist
France Football has announced the 30 candidates for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, and they've boldly excluded several of football's most prominent figures.
Seven players from Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League final starting lineup have secured spots, while exceptional performers from the commanding Barcelona and Liverpool squads of 2024–25 are well represented. Scott McTominay's impressive stint in Naples has also earned recognition.
Nevertheless, some players' seasons appear to have been overlooked. While France Football could never please everyone, certain nominations have sparked surprise, and numerous players will undoubtedly feel they've been unfairly omitted.
Here are some of the world's finest players who failed to receive a 2025 Ballon d'Or nomination.
Rodri
Most anticipated a Vinicius Junior victory at last year's ceremony, but it was Manchester City's cornerstone Rodri who claimed his maiden Ballon d'Or instead. Some argue the Brazilian hasn't recovered since.
Rodri was unfortunately prevented from defending his title in 2025 due to a serious knee injury suffered last September. The Spanish midfielder missed virtually the entire 2024–25 season, though he did return for City during this summer's Club World Cup.
His extended absence left France Football with little option but to omit the current holder of the prestigious accolade, despite him remaining the world's premier defensive midfielder.
Bukayo Saka
Following consecutive nominations, Saka has been excluded this year.
The Arsenal winger, who placed 21st in last year's voting, appeared destined to shatter the single-season Premier League assist record, but like Rodri, his 2024–25 campaign was derailed by injury. Saka was sidelined for three months after suffering a hamstring tear just before Christmas.
Saka returned in April, finding the net at the Santiago Bernabéu and Parc des Princes, but seemed diminished. Had Arsenal achieved European glory, the England star would surely have been among the 30 candidates, but their Champions League journey ended against PSG in the semifinals.
Jamal Musiala
Bayern Munich's dribbling virtuoso has been earmarked for future Ballon d'Or success, but Musiala won't claim the trophy in 2025, and a serious leg injury has already hampered his 2026 chances.
The German star experienced a somewhat disappointing 2024–25 season, with persistent fitness problems stopping him from finding consistent rhythm. He appeared just 25 times in the Bundesliga but was prominent in Bayern's Champions League run.
This represented another solid but unremarkable season for Musiala, who earned a Ballon d'Or nomination in 2023 following a 25-goal contribution Bundesliga campaign.
Lionel Messi
Messi might be away from European competition, but his Club World Cup performances this summer demonstrate he can still compete with the world's elite.
The Argentine secured his latest Ballon d'Or in 2023, having already transferred to Inter Miami, but it was his 2022 World Cup heroics that propelled him to victory. Without a major international tournament this cycle, Messi's contributions have gone unrecognized.
The legendary player recorded 20 MLS goal contributions in 19 appearances last year, and has 18 goals in as many matches in 2025. He's been exceptional in the United States, but France Football evidently questions MLS's standard.
Alessandro Bastoni
Champions League finalists Inter are represented among the 30 nominees through Lautaro Martínez and Denzel Dumfries, but Bastoni's omission is genuinely shocking.
The graceful Italian defender is aesthetically pleasing to watch, and he was instrumental in the Nerazzurri's journey to club football's pinnacle on the left flank of Simone Inzaghi's defense.
This is an honor historically controlled by forwards, with Fabio Cannavaro and Franz Beckenbauer being the only center-backs to claim the prize. Bastoni was never expected to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or but his European displays should have secured him recognition.
Virgil van Dijk is the sole center-back on the shortlist.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Only Messi possesses more Ballons d'Or than Ronaldo, who recently declared the award is now "meaningless" to him.
Ronaldo, like his legendary rival, has been overlooked for a second straight year. The 40-year-old age-defying athlete maintains remarkable physical condition, but few have acknowledged his prolific Saudi Pro League performances.
He led the scoring charts once again in 2024–25, but only a triumphant major tournament with his national team will restore Ronaldo to Ballon d'Or contention.
Alexander Isak
The Swedish striker has become the summer transfer window's central figure, with big-spending Liverpool pursuing a record-breaking deal after Isak informed Newcastle United of his desire to depart St. James' Park.
The Magpies' asking price reportedly stands at £150 million ($201.7 million), and they're justified in demanding such an enormous fee. Isak was arguably Europe's most effective striker last season.
23 Premier League goals, however, weren't sufficient for a Ballon d'Or nomination, with his absence from major European competition hampering the striker's prospects.
Julián Alvarez
Atlético Madrid have seldom succeeded with their expensive signings, and there might have been concerns about repeating past mistakes with Alvarez, considering his initial Spanish struggles.
Nevertheless, the former Manchester City striker didn't take long to adapt, quickly becoming popular in the Spanish capital. Alvarez was nearly always in Diego Simeone's starting eleven, usually pairing with Antoine Griezmann in a highly talented dual-striker system.
The Argentine international concluded his debut campaign with 17 La Liga goals, plus seven more in the Champions League. It was a superb season, but Atlético's lack of team achievements has counted against Alvarez in Ballon d'Or discussions.