Without Messi and Cristiano, a new generation of football was able to win the Balón de Oro

MANCHESTER, Inglaterra (AP) — There is no Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

When he announced the Balón de Oro player at the moon ceremony in Paris, he marked a new era in football. There was also a feeling of emptiness as it gave rivals more leisure time in the sport.

“It's interesting that as we approach the end, we expect a great rivalry to come,” said writer Jonathan Wilson of The Associated Press. “This is a rival for the natural state. Pero nunca había existido una rivalidad analogue”.

Messi and Cristiano won the prestigious Mayor's trophy 13 times in a period of 16 years. The first two were nominated this year.

Now, Vinícius Junior – the ultimate Brazilian of Real Madrid – is the favorite to be crowned best world jury and become the first season born in Seal XXI.

This week it was clear that they had completed a treble in the Campeones league ahead of Borussia Dortmund.

“Vinícius has had an incredible period in which he played a key player… and made it clear that it is the best player in the world,” said Lucas Vázquez, his Madrid-based compañero.

But as Vinícius entered a new era of rule, the pair returned to the days before Messi and Cristiano, when they took turns in the unusual era.

The French star Zinedine Zidane was there once. Lo mismo para Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Luis Figo and George Best. Debido, originally discovered only by European players Pelé and Argentine Diego Maradona, was now haunted by Ganaron.

Before Messi, he was the last player to face Marco van Basten a few years in a row in 1988 and 1989.

Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal have completed discussions with possible participants in the next few years. Manchester City midfielder Pero Rodri was his second favorite this year.

The other players since Cristiano took over the Balón de Oro title in 2008 were Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022.

The award was not published in 2020 because Robert Lewandowski was the favorite.

The Balón de Oro was designed and founded by the French national football team in 1956. His election was carried out in a period of 100 years in the FIFA classification.

Every time someone comes out of the country, 10 players have to award a set at each spot. The player must get more points when he reaches the Galardón.

When Vinícius took it up last year, Mbappé vs. Haaland had the potential to transform the great rivalry for the prize – especially as the Delants of Madrid and Manchester City, each the best European teams in recent years.

“The idea of ​​rivalry and one another is a big part of football this year,” commented children's football book author Matt Oldfield, AP. “It was plain and simple as far as the debate between Mbappé and Haaland was concerned.”