For the first time since 2003, Ronaldo and Messi are not among Ballon d’Or finalists; Naomi Girma’s omission sparks outcry

The Ballon d’Or finalists were announced on Wednesday and, for the first time since 2003, the men’s shortlist does not include Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

The shortlist of 30 men’s finalists includes stars such as Vinicius Junior, Rodri, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane. A player other than Messi or Ronaldo will win football’s highest individual honour for only the third time in 17 years.

Karim Benzema won in 2022. Luka Modrić won in 2018. Otherwise, Messi and Ronaldo have won every Ballon d’Or together since 2008. Ronaldo has won five, the last in 2017.

Messi has won eight titles, most recently last year after leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup championship. Messi has since left Paris Saint-Germain to play for Inter Miami of the MLS and has been hampered by multiple injuries.

On the women’s side, five members of the U.S. women’s national team are in the running for the award. Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith, Alyssa Naeher and Lindsey Horan are among the 30 finalists. They are fresh off gold medals at the Paris Olympics.

USWNT defender Naomi Girma was not among the finalists, an omission that sparked an outcry on social media.

Reigning World Cup champions Spain joined the USWNT in securing five nominations: Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas, Mariona Caldentey, Salma Paralluelo and Patrica Guijarro are all finalists for the women’s award.