3 Biggest Shortlist Snubs For the 2024 Ballon D’Or

The Ballon d’Or is often regarded as the ultimate recognition for individual brilliance in football, a trophy that every player dreams of lifting. But with such prestige comes inevitable drama.

Each year, France Football releases a 30-man shortlist that sparks intense debates among fans and pundits alike, dissecting who deserved a nod and who got unfairly snubbed. The 2024 Ballon d’Or shortlist is no different, leaving many fans outraged over some of the glaring omissions. 

Big names like Heung-Min Son, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and Virgil Van Dijk were all left out, despite their incredible performances last season. It’s hard not to wonder how these key players, who have consistently delivered on the biggest stages, missed the cut. But, in my opinion, three snubs stand out as particularly shocking and unjust. So, let's get into it—the three biggest Ballon d’Or snubs of 2024, and why their absence from the list is raising eyebrows across the football world. 

1) Rodrygo (Real Madrid) 

Rodrygo, at just 23, was a standout in Real Madrid’s march to their 15th Champions League trophy, and yet he’s somehow missing from this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist. This guy wasn’t just a passenger; he scored in both legs of their quarterfinal clash against Manchester City and ended the tournament with 5 goals and 2 assists. That’s the second most for any Real player in the Champions League, only behind Vinicius Junior, who’s one of the frontrunners for the award. 

And it's not just Europe where Rodrygo shined—he was also a key figure in La Liga, scoring 10 goals and providing 5 assists. His versatility and willingness to put the team first made him invaluable to Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, who cruised to the league title by a 10-point margin over Barcelona. Usually, a Champions League and La Liga double pretty much guarantees a spot on the Ballon d’Or shortlist. Just ask the six other Real Madrid players who made the cut this year. 

Yet somehow, Rodrygo didn’t make the cut. Sure, his form may have dipped at times, but with 28 goal contributions in the 2023/24 season, a Ballon d’Or nod seemed a no-brainer. Even Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top scorer, was baffled. He took to Instagram, posting a photo of Rodrygo with the caption, “Minimum top 5 in the world! Ace.” Rodrygo's absence from the list isn't just surprising; it’s the most glaring snub of the season. 

2) Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) 

When Mohamed Salah joined Liverpool in the summer of 2017, few could have predicted just how monumental his impact would be. In the seven seasons since, Salah has become a true Liverpool legend, amassing 214 goals and 92 assists in just 352 appearances. He’s an icon at Anfield, but even his biggest fans would admit that the 2023/24 season wasn’t his finest. His incredible consistency has set the bar so high that even a slight dip feels noticeable. 

Despite this being considered a “down” year, Salah still managed to score 24 goals and add 13 assists across all competitions. However, Liverpool's only silverware was the Carabao Cup, which might have hurt Salah’s chances of making the Ballon d'Or shortlist. While the Ballon d'Or is technically an individual award, team success often plays a big role in the voting process. Just look at last year—Erling Haaland outscored everyone, but Lionel Messi took home the prize, largely thanks to Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph. 

So, while Salah’s exclusion is surprising given his personal stats, it’s somewhat understandable when considering the broader criteria that France Football uses. It's a reminder that in the world of the Ballon d'Or, individual brilliance often needs a team’s success to shine the brightest. 

3) Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) 

There aren’t many players in the world who can electrify a crowd like Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala. With his jaw-dropping close control and Messi-esque finesse, Musiala has become a must-watch talent. Whenever he touches the ball, fans can’t help but lean forward, knowing something special could be about to happen. Players like Musiala are rare, and at just 21, he's already combined his flair with tangible results—scoring 12 goals and providing 7 assists last season. 

Musiala isn’t just a promising young player; he’s Bayern’s rising star, the one they turn to in key moments. And his performances at the Euros? Simply top-notch. Scoring three goals in five games for Germany, he reminded everyone why he's considered one of football’s brightest young talents. While those numbers might not jump off the page, it’s important to remember that Musiala is still only 21—there's so much room for growth. Even now, he’s undeniably among the top 30 players globally, and that's reflected in his market value of approximately 111-million euros, making him the 8th most valuable player in the world. 

It’s surprising that he didn’t make the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist, but that’s just a bump in the road for a player of his caliber. With his talent and potential, it’s not a question of if he’ll be in the Ballon d’Or conversation—it's a matter of when. Musiala is destined for the top, and this is just the beginning. 

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