The end of Messi and Ronaldo's dominance shocking absence in the 2024 Ballon d'Or race

It is true, however, that the 2024 Ballon d'Or shortlist announcement really did seem to mark a changing of the guard in soccer: for the first time in 20-plus years, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were not among the top 30 players in the world. It was their absence that signaled the close of arguably the greatest rivalry in sports history, the passing of the torch to a new guard of superstars.

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Every season brings about change to soccer, but 2024 is the first season in which neither of two greatest Ballon d'Or winners still is in contention. We have had at least one of them among the finalists since 2003, with the unprecedented streak of Cristiano Ronaldo starting it in 2008 and Messi in 2009, right next to each other, dominating the soccer world, pocketing 13 out of the past 15 years' trophies. But like everything else in sport, the Messi-Ronaldo era has finally screeched to a halt.

The New Order: Bellingham, Vinicius, Mbappé, and Haaland

Now, with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo officially off the race, a new generation does step up to claim the throne. Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham headline a cast of names for the mantle. These players represent not only the future of world soccer but are also making an immense impact on the present.

Already at Real Madrid, Mbappé grows into one of the most phenomenal talents in football and is already touted by many as the natural successor to the Messi-Ronaldo duo. He will arrive at the Norway vs France national team tie boasting exceptional technical ability, so quick, and with enough experience at the highest level that he is being thought of, if not as a winner, at least a good candidate for the award. Haaland on the other hand redefines what the image of an old-school center-forward looks like with some outrageous statistics. Not less than 31 goals in the Premier League itself speak volumes of this fact, making him one of the most dangerous forwards on the planet.

Then, there is the Vinicius Junior and the new face of Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham. Vinicius brings in his penchant for clutch goals, while Bellingham adds in a mature, visionary flair-building blocks to a new Spanish giant in their own right and keeping them among the world's elite. Both seek a maiden Ballon d'Or apiece, signaling the beginning of a new era of global superstars.

The Fall of Giants

What would have then left Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo off the 2024 shortlist? There is no bigger factor than age. Now 37 for Messi and 39 for Ronaldo, their abilities to compete at the highest possible level-particularly in Europe-have diminished. Yes, they are still playing, but in smaller leagues: Messi in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami and Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr. Their impacts on major European competitions aren't what they once were.

In Cristiano's case, being left off the shortlist can mostly be attributed to a quiet Euro 2024 and playing in a less competitive league. On paper, his performance for Al-Nassr was great, with 51 games played, 50 goals, and 13 assists. However, it carried as much merit as his seasons in Europe's top tiers. It is a reminder that while CR7 remains a scoring machine, the influence he has on the global game is slowly fading away.

Messi's is a somewhat different story. Whereas he has led Argentina to a World Cup win in 2022 and then won the Leagues Cup with Inter Miami, some people may have thought him to still be among the very best. His move to the United States-while still playing at an incredibly high level-seems to have made him less competitively relevant in a soccer world that is laser-focused on Europe.

The End of an Era and Their Legacy

It has been more than the change of guard that will not see Messi and Cristiano feature in this Ballon d'Or list; instead, it is the closure of almost a chapter that has lasted for two decades. This was a rivalry that has spilled even beyond the confines of soccer to be considered among the greatest in all of sports-from those epic Real Madrid vs Barcelona showdowns, Champions League victories, national titles, to the Ballon d'Or trophies, of course.

Messi has eight awards, Ronaldo five, and together, they wove themselves into the very fabric of the game. And even today, playing in leagues that maybe don't sparkle as much, they still leave an imprint on the beautiful game. They reset the standard of what it means to be a truly elite athlete, and they shattered nearly every record thought to be insurmountable, showing the world that soccer could reach levels many never thought possible.

Future of the Ballon d'Or

Now, without Messi or Ronaldo, it is more open than ever. While Mbappé and Haaland are favorites, surprises can always pop up. But a far more pertinent question should be: What will soccer be like without these two icons dominating the main stage? Will the new generation live up to the enormous expectations? One thing is certain: the soccer world is entering into a new cycle, and the next few years are going to be decisive in determining who will be the next great name.

The turning point will be the ceremony of awards on 28th October in Paris. Not because Messi and Ronaldo are not present, but because a new king of world soccer will be sealed. It's the beginning of a new era, one that marks an end.