the Ballon d’Or without Messi and Ronaldo: The complete end of an era

lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two of the biggest names in world soccer over the past two decades. they have reigned at the pinnacle of world soccer to the point where fans have come to take the formula “Ballon d’Or = Messi or Ronaldo” for granted. However, neither player’s name is on the 30-man shortlist for the 2025 Ballon d’Or. This is the second year in a row that they have been excluded, officially marking the end of an era symbolized by the “Mejor War”.

why were the two legends left out?

superstars have left the European scene

the most decisive reason is the competitiveness of the stages where both players are currently playing. when selecting a Ballon d’Or winner, performance in Europe’s top five leagues (England, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France) and the UEFA Champions League is a very important criterion. however, the American MLS (where Messi plays) and the Saudi Professional League (where Ronaldo plays) don’t come close to the European big leagues in terms of competitiveness and international attention.

lack of decisive performances

additionally, neither player had an overwhelming performance during the 2024-2025 season to justify winning the Ballon d’Or. Sure, Ronaldo helped win the UEFA Nations League and Messi played in the Club World Cup, but that wasn’t enough to sway the Ballon d’Or voters. the fact that it was a year without major national competitions like the World Cup or Euros also meant that both players had fewer opportunities to showcase their impact with their national teams.

a final spark for the legends?

while it’s certainly a bittersweet result to be left out two years in a row, the story of these two legends may not be completely over. if Argentina or Portugal lift the trophy at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we may see their names on the shortlist for the 70th Ballon d’Or once again. here’s hoping for one last spark from two of the greatest players in soccer history.