Messi missing from Ballon d'Or nominees, Spanish stars dominate / Photo: FRANCK FIFE - AFP/File
-
Anthropic bans 'cruel' behavior against its Claude AI
-
US military to livestream firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter
-
Anne Carson's Nobel literature prize 'a proud moment for Canada': PM
-
Aces star Wilson wins record-extending fifth WNBA MVP
-
Montagliani to seek CONCACAF re-election in boost for Infantino: reports
-
Undefeated 49ers seek Seahawks revenge
-
Oil surges, stocks sink on jitters over US plans in Iran war
-
Madrid mourns evicted retiree, 'icon' of Spain housing protests
-
John Cena and Jessica Biel hit the gas in 'Matchbox: The Movie'
-
OpenAI revenue gap report rattles AI stocks
-
US, Ukrainians, Europeans to discuss 'new ideas' to end war
-
France pledges more teachers after school students vow no let-up
-
Unproven 'cures' pushed online amid plague concerns
-
Bordeaux confirmed in sixth tier of French football
-
Nigeria looks to ease fuel prices as election looms
-
Trump gives 'national treasure' Musk top US medal after rift
-
Prosecutors in Maradona death trial seek sentences up to 12 years
-
MLB proposes shortening season, reforming playoffs
-
Swiss captain Xhaka gets suspended fine for fake Covid cert
-
Crew splashes down after 8-month mission on International Space Station
-
Ex-prince Andrew raid warrants ruled 'unlawful' but UK police maintain probe
-
Protests, clashes as S. African anti-migrant tensions reignite
-
Two Latvians arrested inside UK military base: police
-
Russian data centre hit by drone in first for Ukraine war
-
Eckert 'forever grateful' for Southampton support over spy scandal
-
'Fighting for our future': France high school students vow no let-up
-
Venezuela's Maduro, wife hit with new US torture charges
-
Kyiv entering 'survival' mode amid Russian strikes surge: mayor tells AFP
-
Argentina friendlies no fairy tale for African footballers
-
Verdict due in Mexico trial over murders of Australia, US surfers
-
US suspending Microsoft from visa program: Vance
-
B2PRIME Welcomes Christina Barbash as Commercial Manager
-
Man City must 'stick together' during crisis, says Haaland
-
Russia forcing Kyiv into 'survival' mode before winter, mayor tells AFP
-
CAS opens hearing into Senegal AFCON title appeal
-
Closing arguments begin in Maradona death trial
-
UK police agree searches for ex-prince Andrew's homes 'unlawful': judge
-
UEFA president Ceferin to stand for re-election in 2027
-
After botched US execution, Christa Pike walking, mentally 'foggy': lawyer
-
Nearly 300,000 Nepalis at flood risk: study
-
'Stunned' Madrid mourns pensioner who sparked housing protests
-
Riyadh kindergarten hit by interception debris as Houthis say targeted airport
-
High school students turn out for new protests across France
-
Alex Bodi mizează, alături de CRIF, pe investiții transparente și pe prevenirea riguroasă a spălării banilor
-
Bid by Italy's Intesa bank to take over MPS gets boost
-
Gulf Labs, Part of Thailand’s $27 Billion GULF Group, Goes Live as an Injective Validator
-
Stablecoins Are Quietly Becoming Business Infrastructure, NOWPayments Data Shows
-
EU okay for winter despite 'historically low' gas stocks: operators
-
Oil surges, stocks sink as US reportedly eyes new Iran strikes
-
Rwanda to host F1 Grand Prix: sources close to both sides
Messi missing from Ballon d'Or nominees, Spanish stars dominate
Lionel Messi will not win another Ballon d'Or this year after being left out of the nominees revealed by organisers on Wednesday, as stars of Spain's Euro 2024-winning team and Real Madrid's Champions League victors feature heavily.
Messi claimed the eighth Ballon d'Or of his glittering career last year. Now aged 37, he is not among the 30 contenders this time despite winning another title with Argentina at the Copa America in July.
The former Barcelona supestar, now playing club football in MLS for Inter Miami, was also missing from the nominees in 2022 when Karim Benzema took the honours.
However, he returned to win last year after leading Argentina to glory at the World Cup in Qatar.
The most prestigious individual award in football is voted for by a jury of journalists from each of the top 100 countries in FIFA's world ranking.
Brazil forward Vinicius Junior is among the favourites and is one of six members of the Madrid team that won La Liga and the Champions League last season to be nominated.
Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Toni Kroos, Antonio Ruediger and Fede Valverde are the others, while Kylian Mbappe -- who left Paris Saint-Germain for Real over the close season -- features too.
Carvajal is among the contenders from the victorious Spain team alongside Alejandro Grimaldo, Dani Olmo, Rodri, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal.
Manchester City's Norwegian star Erling Haaland and England and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane are on the list as well, but there is no place for five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, now 39.
Xabi Alonso, who won the Bundesliga in an unbeaten season with Bayer Leverkusen, is among the favourites for best coach.
His rivals include Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti and Spain's Luis de la Fuente.
Meanwhile, Aitana Bonmati of Barcelona and Spain will hope to retain the women's Ballon d'Or.
Former winners Ada Hegerberg and Alexia Putellas are also nominated, along with five members of the United States' Olympic gold medal-winning team in Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, Lindsey Horan and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
The Ballon d'Or ceremony is due to take place in Paris on October 28.
H.E.Young--AMWN