Lionel Messi missed out on the list of 30 nominees for the 2022 Ballon d'Or. It is the first time this happens since 2005, when he was starting his professional career at Barcelona. The period studied to analyse his performances corresponds to his first year at PSG, in which he did not particularly stand out.
Lionel Messi has missed out on the list of finalists for the Ballon d'Or for the first time since 2005. Back time, the Argentine was not even an adult and he started to get a place at a Barcelona. They were unaware who would later become a club legend.
The period which the jury had to study was his first season at PSG and he did not shine in that campaign. This season he is playing much better with eight goals in 14 appearances and is even taking some of the spotlight off Kylian Mbappe.
His sporting nemesis, Cristiano Ronaldo, did appear in the shortlight for the Ballon d'Or and ended in 20th position. That is his worst position since 2005, when he did not make the final 30.
Even though Messi did not have a chance of winning it, he appeared in a video which the organisers put together showing past winners of the award. The audience then applauded the seven time Ballon d'Or winner.