Ronaldo absent from 2026 Ballon d'Or despite his performances

Cristiano Ronaldo once again misses out on Ballon d'Or selection, despite scoring 28 goals this season with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia and winning the title of local top scorer. His three goals in World Cup qualifying matches were not enough to propel him into the race for individual awards. Paradoxically, his Saudi teammates Sadio Mané and Julián Quiñones are among the nominees. This fourth consecutive exclusion reignites the debate over the selection criteria of voters in light of performances in club and international competitions.