Real Madrid French sharpshooter Karim Benzema has bagged nomination for the 2022 Ballon d’Or, however, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) Brazilian forward Neymar and Argentine forward Lionel Messi, both had no spot on the 30-man shortlist.
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| Real Madrid French striker Karim Benzema (left-down), Liverpool Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah (right-up) and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) French forward Kylian Mbappe (right-down). Photos: GettyImages |
Lionel Messi, 35, has clinched the award a record seven times – more than any other player in the history of football, but for the first time since 2005, the Argentine playmaker is missing.
The Argentina international netted eleven times for PSG last season after 34 matches.
30-year old Neymar, Messi’s PSG teammate, also did not make it into the 30-man shortlist, but fellow teammate Kylian Mbappe made it.
Neymar featured 28 times for the French Ligue 1 Champions last season, a campaign that was injury-hit.
Manchester United Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo is on the 2022 Ballon d’Or 30-man shortlist after scoring 18 goals in 31 appearances for the English Premier League giants.
Karim Benzema, 34, is tipped as favourite for the 2022 Ballon d’Or, netted a whooping 44 times for Spanish La Liga Champions Real Madrid.
Real Madrid Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who is named on the Yachine Trophy shortlist awarded to the best goalkeeper, Uefa Champions League winner Vinicius Junior, Luka Morid and Casemiro are all on the top 30 for the main prize.
German defender, Antonio Rudiger, who just moved to Real Madrid from English club Chelsea, after a beautiful season, is on the list.
See the 2022 Ballon d’Or 30-man shortlist ⬇️
| No | Player | Club |
| 1 | Thibaut Courtois | Real Madrid |
| 2 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool |
| 3 | Rafael Leao | AC Milan |
| 4 | Christopher Nkunku | RB Leipzig |
| 5 | Joshua Kimmich | Bayern Munich |
| 6 | Trent Alexander-Arnold | Liverpool |
| 7 | Vinicius Jr | Real Madrid |
| 8 | Bernardo Silva | Manchester City |
| 9 | Luis Diaz | Liverpool |
| 10 | Robert Lewandowski | Barcelona |
| 11 | Riyad Mahrez | Manchester City |
| 12 | Casemiro | Real Madrid |
| 13 | Heung-Min Son | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 14 | Fabinho | Liverpool |
| 15 | Karim Benzema | Real Madrid |
| 16 | Mike Maignan | AC Milan |
| 17 | Harry Kane | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 18 | Darwin Nunez | Liverpool |
| 19 | Phil Foden | Manchester City |
| 20 | Sadio Mane | Bayern Munich |
| 21 | Sebastien Haller | Borussia Dortmund |
| 22 | Luka Modric | Real Madrid |
| 23 | Antonio Rudiger | Real Madrid |
| 24 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United |
| 25 | Kevin de Bruyne | Manchester City |
| 26 | Susan Vlahovic | Juventus |
| 27 | Virgil Van Dijk | Liverpool |
| 28 | Joao Cancelo | Manchester City |
| 29 | Erling Braut Haaland | Manchester City |
| 30 | Kylian Mbappe | Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) |
