Marcus Rashford, Alisson, Cristiano Ronaldo: Six big names who missed out on 2023 Ballon d’Or shortlist

The announcement of the 30 nominees for the 2023 Ballon d’Or award led to some surprises, with plenty of focus on the names who have not made the cut.

It was a memorable season in which Argentina won the World Cup in Qatar, and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City secured their historic Treble.

Cristiano Ronaldo missed out despite continuing to score freely for Al Nassr, while his old rival Lionel Messi returned to the shortlist.

Neymar, another summer arrival in the Saudi Pro League, is absent, as are John Stones and Thibaut Courtois.

But the biggest omissions are arguably these six…

With speculation mounting that an out-of-sorts Marcus Rashford might be tempted to leave Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona were both mentioned as interested parties. However, Rashford has now signed fresh terms at Old Trafford, and much of that will be due to his resurgence under Erik ten Hag and his improved fitness after shoulder surgery.

In 2021/22, Rashford managed just five goals. Last season he netted 30 strikes for the first time in his career. He stepped out of the shadows of Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford and didn’t just score regular goals, he scored lots of them. Unfortunately for Rashford the only trophy he lifted was the League Cup, which might be why the winners of more prestigious trophies were named ahead of him.

Manchester United manager Ten Hag found it tough to accommodate Ronaldo as he adopted a style of play that didn’t seem to suit the Portuguese. While Ronaldo, then 37, was accustomed to conserving his energy to be explosive in the box, the Dutchman wanted his three attackers to press the opposition’s defence.

A controversial interview before the World Cup saw Ronaldo depart, and he then linked up with Al Nassr to lead the vanguard of superstars playing in the Saudi Pro League. While Ronaldo still has many fans, the numbers do not back up any claim to include him in the awards. Three goals in 16 United appearances last season showed a drop-off in effectiveness, and 26 goals in 30 appearances for Al Nassr perhaps served only to demonstrate the patchy quality of that league last season.

In a disappointing season for Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson was one of the few bright spots as he maintained his usual consistency and high standards across the season. A two-time Golden Gloves award winner, he kept 14 clean sheets in the Premier League last season, three behind David de Gea, as he played behind a defence that was far less sturdy than in previous seasons.

Another goalkeeper who can feel harshly done by is Manchester City stopper Ederson. The Brazilian oversaw City’s run to the Treble and can question why he is not nominated when Andre Onana – part of the Inter Milan team beaten by City in the Champions League final – is for his displays.

Rated for the last few years as one of the best playmakers in the game, Keira Walsh has established herself in the heart of a wonderful Barcelona team after leaving Manchester City.

Walsh was brought to Spain to serve as an alternative to Alexia Putellas, and proved to be a vital part of the 2022/23 Barcelona side that coasted to La Liga, won the Supercopa de Espana, while also landing the Champions League trophy at the end of the club season.

The 26-year-old then decamped Down Under with England for the Women’s World Cup, and while she suffered an injury in the group stage, she was part of a side that lost in the final to Spain, against some of her Barca team-mates.

She will not however be in contention for the Ballon d’Or Feminin.

Potentially not a surprise that he did not make the cut, but he has a fair argument to make. As skipper of a struggling West Ham side, Rice guided them out of a relegation scrap, while performing for his side and country so well that both Manchester City and Arsenal were prepared to pay more than £90 million for him.

Not just that, but he was also integral to West Ham as they reached the final of the Europa Conference League, earning European glory for David Moyes’ side and leaving the club as something close to a legend.