Lionel Messi’s ‘unfavourable’ debut season at PSG led to his failure to make the 30-man shortlist for the 2022 award following 15 appearances in a row since 2006 – as well as a change in rules.
That is according to the organisers of the award, France Football, who asked one of their journalists to take part in a Q&A after the selections were announced this week.
Barcelona icon Messi won his first Ballon d’Or back in 2009 and picked up further triumphs in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and at the last ceremony back in 2021 – standing alone as a seven-time winner.
Emmanuel Bojan, a journalist for France Football – who have run the awards since 1956 – took part in a Q&A on the L’Equipe website in a bid to explain their selections.
When asked about the Argentina icon, he said: “Inevitably, Lionel Messi, with his 15 appearances in a row since 2006, his seven Ballon d’Or victories, his title holder status, weighs very heavily when it comes to the final choice.
