Lionel Messi misses out on Ballon d'Or nomination

By Ben Sully | 12 August 2022

Lionel Messi misses out on the 30-man shortlist for the men's Ballon d'Or, while the likes of Karim Benzema, Robert Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo are included.

Lionel Messi has been omitted from the 30-man shortlist for the men's Ballon d'Or.

The seven-time winner of the award has missed out on the 2022 shortlist after experiencing a difficult first season with Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite struggling to find his best form, Messi scored 11 goals and contributed 15 assists in 34 appearances for PSG last term, but it was not enough to earn himself a place in the Ballon d'Or vote.

Karim Benzema is the favourite to win the award after scoring 44 goals in 45 appearances last season, helping Real Madrid win La Liga title, Champions League, Supercopa de Espana and UEFA Super Cup.

The France international is also joined by Real Madrid teammates Thibaut Courtois, Vinicius Junior, Casemiro, Luka Modric and summer signing Antonio Rudiger.

Sadio Mane is also a contender for the award after scoring 23 goals in 51 appearances for Liverpool last term, while 50 goals in 46 club appearances in the 2021-22 season earns Robert Lewandowski a place on the shortlist.

Liverpool and Manchester City both have six players nominated for the award - including Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne - while five-time winner of the award Cristiano Ronaldo is also included.

2022 MEN'S BALLON D'OR NOMINEES IN FULL:

Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Luis Diaz (Liverpool), Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona), Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Heung-Min Son (Tottenham Hotspur), Fabinho (Liverpool), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Darwin Nunez (Liverpool), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich), Sebastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Erling Haaland (Manchester City)