Seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi paid a high price for an underwhelming first season with Paris Saint-Germain when he was left off the 30-strong list for this year's coveted football award.
Lucy Bronze, who was runner-up in 2019, is one of three members of England's Euro-winning squad to be short-listed for the women's award.
A change in the format has also worked against the Argentine superstar with the Ballon d'Or no longer acknowledging the best player over a calendar year. French international striker Karim Benzema is the overwhelming favourite after being the architect of Real Madrid's 14th Champions League title.Benzema is likely to become the fifth French winner after Raymond Kopa , Michel Platini , Jean-Pierre Papin and Zinedine Zidane .
That edged him ahead of Raul in the club's all-time list with only Cristiano Ronaldo in front of him with 450.Manchester United's Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, is nominated again this year.
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