Lionel Messi not nominated for Ballon d'Or for first time since 2005, Neymar Jr. also misses cut
The nominees for the Ballon d'Or were released Friday and two of the biggest names is soccer didn't make the cut. Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. were not among the 30 nominees to win the award.
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For Messi, it marks the first time since 2005 he was not nominated for the award.
Lionel Messi ❌
Neymar Jr. ❌
The 30 nominees for the Ballon d'Or by @francefootball are here and we have some surprise omissions. 😮 pic.twitter.com/O1YmjJT71g— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 12, 2022
Messi won the Ballon d'Or the last two times it was given out — 2021 and 2019. The award was canceled in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Messi also won the award in 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009. His seven Ballon d'Or wins are the most by any player. He's also finished either second or third in the voting six times.
Neymar also failed to make the cut. He has yet to win the award, but has finished third in the voting two times — 2015 and 2017.
Both Messi and Neymar spent the 2021-2022 season with Paris Saint-Germain. The team went 26-8-4 and finished first in the Ligue 1. Messi scored six goals after scoring 30 with Barcelona during the 2020-2021 season. Neymar scored 13 goals and had 6 assists in 22 games with Paris Saint-Germain.
