List Of Nomine Ballon D'Or: Lionel Messi Again, Cristiano Ronaldo Disappears

Argentine national team player, Lionel Messi. (Photo: Twitter @Argentina)

JAKARTA Argentine national team star Lionel Messi leads the short list of nominee Ballon d'Or 2023. In that list, his rival Cristiano Ronaldo is not there.

The Inter Miami player has for the first time returned to the nominees after surprisingly not being on the list of 30 players who will receive this award in 2022.

Unfortunately, on this list there are no names of five-time Ballon d'Or winners Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portugal international star has not been on the list for the first time since 2003.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid player ended his career in European football last December and decided to join Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.

Messi, who escorted Argentina to the 2022 World Cup champions and Paris Saint-Germain, lifted the French Ligue 1 trophy, on the list with several stars from the English Premier League.

One of them is Manchester City player Erling Haaland. This Norwegian international star last season became an important part of the club that won the treble (three major titles in a season).

French international Kylian Mbappe is also on the list of recipients of this prestigious award, which was won by French striker Karim Benzema last year.

Many have speculated that Messi, after confirming his Ligue 1 title with PSG and the World Cup title with Argentina last December, will win the trophy in 2023.

From the list of names on the list of the top 30 nominees, the most serious competitor for Messi is of course Haaland. This former Dortmund player was so brilliant as to help City win the first Premier League and European Champions League.