Messi Overlooked as Lookman Flies Africa’s Flag at Ballon d’Or

Lionel Messi was shockingly left off the Ballon d’Or nominees announced Wednesday.

Considering the recent triumphs of Spain’s Euro 2024 champions and Real Madrid’s Champions League winners, his exclusion was a surprise.

Messi, 37, surprisingly missed out on the 2023 Ballon d’Or despite winning the Copa America with Argentina. This marks the first time since 2016 that he hasn’t been among the top 30 nominees.

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Despite his stellar performance, the 2022 Ballon d’Or award shockingly overlooked Inter Miami superstar and former Barcelona legend Lionel Messi.

However, he returned to win last year after leading Argentina to glory at the World Cup in Qatar.

Brazil forward Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid is the favorite to win after his team’s Champions League and LaLiga victories under Carlo Ancelotti.

Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Toni Kroos, Antonio Ruediger and Fede Valverde are the others, while Kylian Mbappe, who left Paris Saint-Germain for Real over the close season features too.

Alejandro Grimaldo, Dani Olmo, Rodri, Nico Williams, and Lamine Yamal, five Spanish players, were also among the nominees.

Super Eagles striker Ademola Lookman, the sole African representative on the prestigious football award nomination list, made a splash with his hat-trick in Atalanta’s Europa League Final victory over Bayer Leverkusen.

Erling Haaland and Harry Kane, top strikers from Norway and England, respectively, make the list.

Xabi Alonso, who won the Bundesliga in an unbeaten season with Bayer Leverkusen, is among the favorites for best coach.

His rivals include Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Spain’s Luis de la Fuente.

Meanwhile, Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona and Spain will hope to retain the women’s Ballon d’Or.

Five members of the U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning team have joined previous winners Ada Hegerberg and Alexia Putellas on the nomination list: Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, Lindsey Horan, and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony is due to take place in Paris on October 28.