Lionel Messi

For the first time since 2003 neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi have been included in the nominees for the men's Ballon d'Or award, which were announced on Wednesday, with England's Jude Bellingham among the 30 players named.

Portugal's Ronaldo, who has won the award five times, also failed to receive a nomination last year, while Messi, who won for a record eighth time in 2023 and has been nominated 16 times, misses out despite Argentina's Copa America win this year.

Messi and Ronaldo not nominated for Ballon d'Or

Lionel Messi made a cameo in Inter Miami’s training on Wednesday as the Argentina superstar is working his way back from injury.

Messi’s last appearance for Inter Miami was on June 1 and he’s missed Miami’s last eight games due to being away for the Copa América and a ligament injury he suffered during the final of the South American tournament.

Fans will be pleased to see that Messi was back in the training for the first time in months.

Messi returns to Inter Miami training

Messi’s long-awaited return to MLS is taking longer than expected. And Inter Miami aren't exactly telling us when he’s coming back.

Argentina and Inter Miami captain, Lionel Messi, suffered an injury during the 2024 Copa América final last July, forcing the 37-year-old off the pitch with a reported right ankle ligament injury.

Injured Argentina captain Lionel Messi was left out of the squad announced on Monday by the Argentine FA for next month's South American World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia.

The 37-year-old Messi was not included in the 28-man squad following an ankle injury sustained during last month's Copa America final in the United States.

The Inter Miami player is currently recovering at his club.

Messi not playing for Argentina this September

The race for the upcoming Ballon d’Or is going to be close.

As anticipation builds for the 2024 Ballon d'Or, the battle for soccer’s most coveted individual award is shaping up to be thrilling. 

After a long 2023-24 campaign, paired with a summer full of international play with the Euros and Copa América, the number of contenders for the award has only increased.

The biggest star in MLS will not participate in the league's All-Star Game, with Inter Miami's Lionel Messi bowing out of Wednesday's contest at Columbus, Ohio, with an ankle injury.

Also ruled out of Wednesday's contest is Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez, who is dealing with knee discomfort.

Why is Messi not playing in All-Star Game?

Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi is out indefinitely because of a ligament injury in his right ankle, the team announced Tuesday.

He sustained the injury during Argentina's 1-0 victory against Colombia on Sunday in the Copa America final in Miami.

Lionel Messi ankle injury

EAST RUTHERFORD — Defending champions Argentina booked their place in the Copa America final after goals from Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi gave them a 2-0 win over Canada in Tuesday's semi-final in New Jersey.

Argentina have won a joint-record 15 Copa titles and reached the final six times in the past eight editions but Canada caused them problems in the opening 20 minutes, Jacob Shaffelburg twice shooting wide from promising positions.