The release of the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or has sparked debate and controversy, particularly regarding the absence of two of football’s brightest young talents: Jamal Musiala of Bayern Munich and Rodrygo of Real Madrid. Both players had standout seasons, but their exclusion has left fans and colleagues puzzled.
Max Eberl, the sporting director at Bayern Munich, expressed his disappointment over Musiala’s omission. “I’m happy for every player nominated for the Ballon d’Or, but we at FC Bayern are very surprised that Jamal Musiala is missing from this list” Eberl commented. He highlighted Musiala’s outstanding performances at the Euros, where the attacking midfielder was named in the best XI and was one of the tournament’s top scorers. “The fact that he’s not even one of the 30 best players of the last season is completely incomprehensible to us” Eberl added, emphasizing Musiala’s key role in Bayern’s journey to the Champions League semi-finals.
Eberl further praised Musiala, stating, “In our eyes, Jamal is one of the most fascinating players in international football with absolutely exceptional, unique abilities. We are very proud of what he’s doing for FC Bayern and also for the national team.”
🗣️📲 Neymar on Rodrygo’s Ballon d’Or snub:
“Minimum top 5 in the world.” pic.twitter.com/P8NA4KXO7G
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) September 5, 2024
Neymar, the Brazilian superstar, also voiced his surprise at the exclusion of Rodrygo from the shortlist. He took to Instagram to express his opinion, declaring that Rodrygo is “top 5 in the world at a minimum.” Neymar’s support for his compatriot was clear, suggesting that Rodrygo’s omission was a significant oversight. Rodrygo himself also posted a cryptic story on Instagram, leaving fans to speculate on his feelings about the snub.
The reactions to Musiala and Rodrygo’s absence from the Ballon d’Or shortlist show the unexpected nature of the nominations and have sparked discussions about the criteria and decision-making process behind one of football’s most prestigious awards.