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    Lionel Messi and Neymar snubbed by Ballon d’Or; Liverpool and Man City dominate shortlist

    Seb SternikSeb Sternik12 August 2022
    Lionel Messi Neymar PSG Mar22

    Lionel Messi Neymar PSG Mar22

    Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and PSG teammate Neymar Jr have not been included on the 30-man shortlist for this year’s award.

    This is the first time since 2005 that Messi has missed out on the shortlist, despite scoring 11 goals in 34 games for PSG last season and helping Argentina to Finalissima glory.

    Neymar is the other high-profile absentee after enduring an injury hit campaign which saw him make just 28 appearances for the Parisians.
    The list is dominated by Premier League talent, with Liverpool boasting seven players alone.
    English champions Manchester City have six players nominated, while the only player from across the city to make the shortlist is Cristiano Ronaldo.
    Despite this, it's Karim Benzema who remains the favourite to lift the prize after scoring 44 goals last season and helping Los Blancos to the La Liga and Champions League honours.
    New Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski also features, having scored 48 goals in 44 matches.
    The Pole missed out on the prize during the Covid-19 pandemic, with many believing he was wrongfully denied the honour.

    2022 Ballon d'Or shortlist

    Thibaut Courtois - Real Madrid

    Vinicius Junior - Real Madrid

    Casemiro - Real Madrid

    Karim Benzema - Real Madrid

    Luka Modric - Real Madrid

    Antonio Rudiger - Chelsea/Real Madrid

    Rafael Leao - AC Milan

    Mike Maignan - AC Milan

    Christopher Nkunku - RB Leipzig

    Mohamed Salah - Liverpool

    Luis Diaz - Porto/Liverpool

    Trent Alexander-Arnold - Liverpool

    Fabinho - Liverpool

    Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool

    Darwin Nunez - Benfica/Liverpool

    Sadio Mane - Liverpool/Bayern Munich

    Joshua Kimmich - Bayern Munich

    Robert Lewandowski - Bayern Munich/Barcelona

    Bernardo Silva - Manchester City

    Riyad Mahrez - Manchester City

    Phil Foden - Manchester City

    Kevin De Bruyne - Manchester City

    Joao Cancelo - Manchester City

    Erling Haaland - Borussia Dortmund/Manchester City

    Son Heung-min - Tottenham Hotspur

    Harry Kane - Tottenham Hotspur

    Sebastien Haller - Ajax/Borussia Dortmund

    Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United

    Dusan Vlahovic - Fiorentina/Juventus

    Kylian Mbappe - Paris Saint-Germain

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