The 2025 Ballon d'Or nominees list has been announced, with 2024 winner Rodri excluded—marking the second consecutive year that the previous year's Ballon d'Or winner has failed to make the nominees list.
In 2024, Rodri claimed the Ballon d'Or ahead of Vinícius Júnior. However, the Manchester City midfielder suffered a serious injury in September last year and only returned to action towards the end of the season.
Both his individual and team performances have led to Rodri missing out on the 2025 Ballon d'Or nominees list.
This now makes it two consecutive years where the prior year's Ballon d'Or winner has been absent from the nominees list. Messi, who won the 2023 Ballon d'Or, also failed to make the 2024 nominees list.
