Lionel Messi and Cristino Ronaldo were both left off the list of nominees for the 2024 Ballon d'Or award, marking the first time neither star was nominated since 2003.

It is true, however, that the 2024 Ballon d’Orshortlist announcement really did seem to mark a changing of the guard in soccer: for the first time in 20-plus years, the two superstars were not among the top 30 players in the world.

It was their absence that signalled 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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Among the big names shortlisted for the coveted accolade are Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Martin Ödegaard, Declan Rice, Vitinha, Harry Kane, Federico Valverde, and Antonio Rüdiger.

Six Spanish players are in the running for this year's Ballon d'Or after their Euro 2024 victory this summer. They include Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, Rodri, Dani Carvajal, Lamine Yamal, and Alejandro Grimaldo. Argentina, the Copa América champions, leads the Latin American representation with goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and forward Lautaro Martínez.

The youngest player ever nominated for the Ballon d'Or, Lamine Yamal, who turned 17 in July, is also in the running for the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young player, alongside talents like Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) and Arda Guler (Real Madrid).

In the goalkeeper category, the ten nominees include Spain’s Unai Simón, Argentina’s Emiliano Martínez, and Inter Milan's Swiss shot-stopper, Yann Sommer, among others.

As for the coaching category, Spanish managers dominate with Xabi Alonso, Pep Guardiola, and Spain's national team coach, Luis de la Fuente. They’ll be competing against Italians Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid), Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), and Argentina’s national team coach, Lionel Scaloni. The awards ceremony will take place in Paris on October 28.