Ballon d’Or 2025 snubs: Which top players were left out of the final shortlist?

The Ballon d’Or shortlist for 2025 has been officially revealed—and as always, the announcement was met with both excitement and controversy. While the 30-player list includes breakout stars and global icons, a handful of world-class talents have been surprisingly left out.

Whether due to injuries, underwhelming seasons, or the emergence of younger stars, these omissions sparked intense debate across the soccer world. Here’s a look at the most surprising snubs from this year’s shortlist.

For the second consecutive year, neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo appear on the Ballon d’Or shortlist—marking the clearest sign yet that their two-decade dominance has come to a close.

Messi’s performances with Inter Miami, while impactful for MLS, didn’t resonate strongly enough on the global stage. Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s prolific scoring in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr wasn’t enough to sway voters against rising competition in Europe’s top leagues.

Rodri: Last year’s winner sidelined

Manchester City’s midfield general and 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, Rodri, is also absent from this year’s nomination list. The Spaniard spent most of the 2024–25 season sidelined with a long-term injury, making him ineligible despite his crucial role in City’s treble-winning campaign the year prior. His absence is a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in soccer, even for reigning champions.

Bruno Fernandes and Julián Álvarez: Stats didn’t tell the whole story

Manchester United’s captain Bruno Fernandes is another major name missing from the shortlist. Despite leading United in goals and assists this season and being one of the Premier League’s top creators, Fernandes failed to inspire his team to any major silverware. Analysts argue that while his numbers were impressive, his performances in big matches and lack of trophies likely played against him in the voting process.

Julián Álvarez, fresh off significant contributions for Atlético Madrid and Argentina, was another major omission. His absence underscores how even high-impact performances may be overshadowed by organizational or visibility factors.

Pep Guardiola and Lionel Scaloni snubbed as coaches

On the coaching side, many were surprised not to see Pep Guardiola—who helped Manchester City remain one of Europe’s elite—among the finalists for Best Men’s Coach.

Equally unexpected was the exclusion of Lionel Scaloni, who continued to lead Argentina with consistency and dominance post-World Cup. Their omissions raise questions about what metrics are truly being used to judge coaching excellence.

A new generation rises

This year’s shortlist heavily favors youth and rising stars. Names like Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, and Xavi Simons reflect a generational shift. Teams like Barcelona and PSG are well-represented, and the inclusion of players such as Scott McTominay and Ousmane Dembélé shows the weight now given to standout international performances and consistent club form—even outside of traditional “big match” moments.