Move over, Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele: Kylian Mbappe makes Ballon d’Or history – Only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi did it before

The 2025 Ballon d’Or nominees list has been revealed, and while soccer fans’ eyes immediately went to the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, and Lamine Yamal, there is an intriguing twist buried in this year’s announcement. It’s not about who is tipped to win or who has been left out — although the absence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is certainly eyebrow-raising.

Instead, the real story lies in a remarkable landmark that Mbappe has reached — one that only two other players in history have ever achieved, and both happen to be among the sport’s greatest icons. What exactly is this record, and how does it tie him to the legacies of Messi and Ronaldo? The answer lies deeper in his journey to the top.

The newly announced shortlist features some of the biggest names in world soccer. Ousmane Dembele enters as the front-runner after a stellar season that saw him rack up 36 goals and 13 assists across all competitions for both club and country. Also in the mix is Mohamed Salah, who helped Liverpool secure the Premier League title, as well as Barcelona duo Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, who were instrumental in Barcelona’s La Liga triumph.

Notably absent from the list are Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi — an increasingly rare sight in a competition they have dominated for nearly two decades. Ronaldo’s absence is particularly surprising given his UEFA Nations League triumph with Portugal in June.

The milestone revealed: Mbappe joins soccer’s elite club

While the headlines have been dominated by Dembele and Yamal’s seasons and the Messi-Ronaldo omissions, Kylian Mbappe has quietly carved his name alongside those two legends in the record books, Sports Illustrated suggests. According to the 2025 Ballon d’Or announcement, there are only three players in history who have earned eight Ballon d’Or nominations by the age of 26: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and now Kylian Mbappe.

Mbappe’s eighth nomination comes on the back of a remarkable debut season at Real Madrid, where he scored 44 goals, secured his first European Golden Boot, and claimed the Pichichi Trophy. His previous seven nominations came during his time at Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain, beginning in 2017 when he was just 18 years old — at the time the youngest player ever nominated, before Lamine Yamal broke that record.

Messi, Ronaldo… and Mbappe: The comparison

Matching Ronaldo and Messi at this stage of his career puts Mbappe in rare company. Both legends had already claimed multiple Ballon d’Or awards by 26 — Ronaldo winning his first at 23 in 2008, and Messi securing his at 22 in 2009.

Despite widespread belief that he is among the world’s top players, the France international has yet to win the award on an individual basis. Combined, Messi and Ronaldo own 13 Ballon d’Or trophies. Mbappe, despite his staggering output, still chases his first.