"Surprising Omissions: Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Marcus Rashford Left Off the 2023 Ballon d'Or Shortlist"

The nominees for the 2023 Ballon d'Or have been revealed, and it was a rather convoluted and frustrating announcement. 

France Football, the award's organizers, took to Twitter to release the contenders in six separate batches, over a span of more than two hours. Notably, two of the favorites, Lionel Messi, a seven-time winner, and Manchester City's Erling Haaland, were expectedly included in the list. However, there were some glaring omissions that have raised eyebrows.

Cristiano Ronaldo's absence from the nominations will certainly dominate the headlines, his exclusion may not be entirely unjustified. In addition to Ronaldo, a couple of other forwards might not have met the criteria for inclusion. Nevertheless, there were some shocking snubs, with treble-winner John Stones being among the notable names overlooked.

Inter Milan had two players, Nicolo Barella and Lautaro Martinez, nominated for the Ballon d'Or, but none of their defensive players who played a pivotal role in reaching the Champions League final were recognized. Among them, Federico Dimarco stood out, not only for his defensive prowess but also for his significant contributions in attack, where he registered five assists, second only to Kevin De Bruyne's six among defenders in Europe's major leagues.

Dimarco also managed to amass 14 goal involvements in total, scoring six goals himself, placing him fourth among defenders across the 'Big Five' European leagues. While he wasn't a top contender for the Ballon d'Or, some recognition for his outstanding season would have been well-deserved.

Casemiro, though facing criticism, had a transformative impact on Manchester United's midfield in the 2022-23 season. His omission from the 30-strong shortlist for the Ballon d'Or raises questions, especially considering his instrumental role in ending the club's trophy drought and securing their return to the Champions League. Furthermore, Casemiro was one of the standout performers for his national team during the World Cup.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen's absence from the Ballon d'Or shortlist could be attributed to Barcelona's early exit from the Champions League group stage. However, the 31-year-old goalkeeper delivered a stellar performance last season, featuring in all 38 of Barcelona's league games and conceding only 18 goals. Ter Stegen also boasted the highest number of clean sheets in all competitions among European goalkeepers, with a remarkable 75 percent save success rate.

Despite his outstanding achievements, Marcus Rashford was surprisingly overlooked for the Ballon d'Or nominations. Rashford was directly involved in 39 goals across all competitions last season, a tally that only six players exceeded, all of whom made the shortlist. His remarkable form continued at the World Cup, where he scored three times for England.

John Stones, despite dealing with injuries, was a key figure for Manchester City during their treble-winning campaign. His versatility and composure, especially in the Champions League, earned him praise. It's baffling that he missed out on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, with some less accomplished players making the cut.

Jack Grealish's exclusion from the Ballon d'Or shortlist is somewhat surprising, given the media's attempts to portray him as a success story in the 2022-23 season. However, his statistics, with only 16 goal involvements, don't quite match up to the hype, especially in critical matches during the season.

Neymar's absence from the nominations was hardly unexpected, given his injury-plagued season and off-field issues. Despite his immense talent, his career has taken a downturn, culminating in a move to Al-Hilal. It's a sad realization that Neymar, who was once considered a potential heir to Lionel Messi, is now far from contention for the Ballon d'Or.

Cristiano Ronaldo's failure to secure a Ballon d'Or nomination for the first time since 2003 may not come as a surprise. His presence in the starting lineup was questioned by both Manchester United's coach and Portugal's national team manager, raising doubts about his current impact. While Ronaldo remains a remarkable athlete, matching Messi's seven Ballon d'Or awards seems increasingly unlikely, particularly in a less competitive league.