This archive report was first published on 23 October 2019.
On Monday, October 21, 2019, a 30-man shortlist for the 2019 Ballon d'Or award was released, sparking excitement among football fans worldwide.
However, the list was met with surprise as several big names were missing, including 2018 winner Luka Modric, Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar, and Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante.
According to reports, Neymar's dip in form due to long spells on the sidelines was a major factor in his omission, while Modric's absence was uncharacteristic given his impressive performances in the past year.
Other notable omissions include Liverpool's wing-back Andrew Robertson and Atletico Madrid shot-stopper Jan Oblak.
Despite the surprise exclusions, the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah are among the notable footballers vying for the prestigious award.
Interestingly, the Liverpool pair of Sadio Mane and Mo Salah are among five African football stars who made the nomination list for the award.
As reported earlier by TUKO.co.ke, ex-Chelsea star Didier Drogba had expressed his support for Sadio Mane and Mo Salah to win the 2019 Ballon d'Or.
