Cristiano Ronaldo Left Out of 2026 Ballon d’Or Nominations for Fourth Year in a Row, Fans Call It ‘Political d’Or’

Sep 10, 2026 5:02 PM

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Saikat Nandy

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The 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or nominees are out, and one name is missing once again. Cristiano Ronaldo did not make the 30-player shortlist for the fourth straight year, even after helping Al-Nassr win the Saudi Pro League title. The list includes his longtime rival Lionel Messi, along with Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Jude Bellingham. The news quickly spread across social media, with many fans questioning how the five-time winner got overlooked.

France Football announced the nominations on September 8. The 70th edition of the award will take place in London on October 26, marking the first time the ceremony happens outside Paris. Harry Kane is the favorite after scoring 73 goals in 65 matches for Bayern Munich and England. But the biggest talking point remains Ronaldo’s absence.

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OUR 2026 MEN'S BALLON D'OR NOMINEES! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/GQFsH5u5lO
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026

Ronaldo’s Numbers Were Strong, But Not Enough

Ronaldo had a solid season. He scored 28 goals in the Saudi Pro League and finished second in the scoring charts. He also helped Al-Nassr win their first league title in seven years, scoring twice on the final day to secure the trophy. At the 2026 World Cup, he added three more goals.

Despite these numbers, the selection committee left him out. The main reason appears to be the level of competition. The Saudi Pro League ranks 36th globally, and voters often weigh performances in European competitions more heavily. Ronaldo has not played in Europe since leaving Manchester United in early 2023.

What makes the snub harder for fans to accept is that two other Saudi-based players made the list. Sadio Mane, Ronaldo’s teammate at Al-Nassr, got a nomination. Julian Quinones of Al-Qadsiah also made the cut after scoring 33 league goals. Many supporters found this hard to understand.

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“How did Mane make that list and Ronaldo didn’t make it”

Messi Makes the Cut While Ronaldo Stays Out

Lionel Messi received a nomination for the 17th time. The 39-year-old registered 75 goal contributions in 49 appearances for Inter Miami and Argentina. He also helped Argentina reach the World Cup final. Messi remains the record holder with eight Ballon d’Or wins.

For many, seeing Messi on the list while Ronaldo is not brings back memories of their long rivalry. Ronaldo had appeared on the Ballon d’Or shortlist for 18 straight years from 2005 to 2022. That streak ended after his move to Saudi Arabia.

“Messi but no Ronaldo is insane”

Fans Flood Social Media With ‘Political d’Or’ Complaints

The reaction online was fast and loud. Supporters used the phrase “Political d’Or” to describe what they see as unfair treatment. One fan wrote:

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“Messi is in, Ronaldo is out… For performance-wise the whole season Ronaldo was even better. Political d’or once again”

Others pointed out that if Messi deserved a spot based on his performances, then Ronaldo should have qualified too. Some fans even suggested that the award should be decided by public votes instead of journalists.

“I have an unpopular opinion. Since it’s hard to choose the winner for this year’s Ballon d’Or, I think they should let it be decided by fans’ votes”

Ronaldo himself has criticized the award in the past. After being left out in 2025, he called the Ballon d’Or “fictitious”. His comments came back into focus after this year’s snub.

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