Ballon d’Or Buzz: Messi and Ronaldo Reign Supreme on ShortlistBallon d’Or Buzz: Messi and Ronaldo Reign Supreme on Shortlist The highly anticipated shortlist for the prestigious Ballon d’Or has been unveiled, with Argentine maestro Lionel Messi and Portuguese talisman Cristiano Ronaldo predictably dominating the contenders. The coveted award, given annually to the world’s best male footballer, has been dominated by these two icons for over a decade. Messi, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner and six-time recipient, once again finds himself in the running thanks to his exceptional performances for both Barcelona and Argentina. The 34-year-old forward led the Catalans to the Copa del Rey title and was instrumental in Argentina’s triumph at the 2021 Copa America. Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, continues to defy age with his prolific goalscoring abilities. After returning to Manchester United in the summer, the 36-year-old has been in impressive form, helping the Red Devils to a strong start in the Premier League. Also included on the 30-man shortlist are several other world-class talents. Bayern Munich’s Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, who narrowly missed out on the award last year, has been recognized for his remarkable goal record. Chelsea’s French midfielder N’Golo Kanté, a key figure in their Champions League triumph, is also in contention. Other notable names on the list include Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), and Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain). The Ballon d’Or winner will be announced on November 29th, and the race prometeth to be one of the most closely contested in recent memory. While Messi and Ronaldo remain the favorites, any of the shortlisted players have the potential to spring a surprise. As the countdown to the awards ceremony begins, the Ballon d’Or buzz will continue to intensify, with fans and pundits alike eagerly awaiting the outcome of this prestigious accolade.
