When was last time neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo won Ballon d'Or?

Both stars have not been nominated for the 2024 ceremony.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to take place on Monday in Paris, and the winner will be announced among the nominees which does not include two greatest footballer players of all time, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

This is a little strange compared to how both the players have dominated the award for two decades. Messi has won an astonishing eight Ballon d’Ors while Ronaldo has lifted the prize five times.

⚽️✨ Throwback in 2023 when Lionel Messi won his 8th Ballon d'Or ! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/vS488llFGS

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 24, 2024

However, both left Europe to play in different countries as they reached the twilight of their careers, Messi is currently faring for USA team Inter Miami while Ronaldo is playing for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr. Ronaldo remains the last player to win the Ballon d’Or while playing in the English Premier League.

The LAST Premier League footballer to win the Ballon d’Or. 😉 pic.twitter.com/LcYnolfKyI

— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) October 28, 2024

But how long it has been since both of them were not nominated for the award? If we go back then it will certainly be two decades when both failed to get their name on the list.

When was the last time neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo won the award?

It’s the first time since 2003 that neither of them have been nominated for the award. After getting his name on the list in 2004, Messi went on to win the award eight times and he is recently the reigning winner of the prize.

The same has been with Ronaldo, who was nominated in 2004 and went on to win the prize five times, the last time he won the accolade was back in 2017.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's Ballon d'Or journey's through the years! pic.twitter.com/kIDofMOA8E

— 365Scores (@365Scores) October 28, 2024

Meanwhile, the last time neither of them won the award was in 2022, when Karim Benzema won and beat Sadio Mane, Kevin De Bruyne finished the Podium and Ronaldo came 20th, while Messi was not nominated.

However, after leading Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Messi lifted the Prize in the 2023 ceremony after beating the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

Now it seems unlikely that either of the players will be nominated for the award given they are now not playing in Europe and are already way past their peak.

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