Why Cristiano Ronaldo was excluded from the 2023 Ballon d’Or nominees

The anticipation for the 67th annual Ballon d’Or ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in France is building, with fans eager to find out who will be crowned the best player of the 2022-2023 season. Notably missing from the list of nominees is Al-Nassr’s captain, Cristiano Ronaldo. Vincent Garcia, chief editor of France Football, has shed light on why Ronaldo was surprisingly omitted for the first time since 2004.

The 2023 Ballon d’Or, which follows the player’s performance during the 2022-2023 season, rather than the calendar year, features thirty nominees, including football luminaries like Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe. However, Ronaldo’s absence from the list has raised eyebrows.

Garcia clarified that Cristiano Ronaldo’s exclusion was not a subject of debate within the Ballon d’Or committee. He mentioned that Ronaldo’s performance in the World Cup did not shine, and he participated in a tournament with comparatively lower visibility. Nevertheless, Garcia acknowledged Ronaldo’s status as a great player.

While Cristiano Ronaldo may not be among the 2023 Ballon d’Or nominees, his legacy in the world of football remains intact, and fans will undoubtedly continue to follow his remarkable career closely.