Messi and Ronaldo and out of Ballon D'Or nominees for the first time since 2003

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were both left off the Ballon d'Or nominees list for the first time since 2003. Messi, an eight-time winner, and Ronaldo, who has five awards, did not make the 30-player list announced Wednesday. Key nominees include Vinicius Junior, Rodri, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane. On the women’s side, five U.S. stars, including Lindsey Horan and Sophia Smith, were nominated. Spain, with five nominees, and England, with three, also have strong representation among the contenders.