Liverpool's Federico Chiesa transfer vindicated after costly alternative suffers Ballon d'Or snub

The Ballon d’Or will have a new winner this year. For the first time since 2003, the 30-man shortlist does not include the greatest of all time, Lionel Messi, or the pretender to that title, Cristiano Ronaldo.

The only other previous winners who are still playing – Karim Benzema and Luka Modric – have not been nominated either. Despite the established Ballon d’Or big dogs missing out, there are no Liverpool players in contention .

It feels fair enough that Reds players who only added a Carabao Cup medal to their collection are excluded at the expense of others who won league titles or the Champions League. Yet someone who could have joined Liverpool this summer, prior to its acquisition of Federico Chiesa , ticked both of those trophy boxes and was still snubbed in favor of trophyless men.

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In a not wildly different universe, Real Madrid forward Rodrygo might have been unveiled as the latest member of Arne Slot ’s squad last week. He was linked with a move to Anfield this summer, though opted to remain in Spain.

The Brazilian is unlikely to regret that decision. Having won the Champions League, La Liga and UEFA Super Cup in 2024, he’d be right to wonder what, say, Declan Rice or Harry Kane has achieved to earn a Ballon d’Or nomination at his expense though.

And speaking of expense, Liverpool would have had to invest serious sums if it was intending to sign Rodrygo in the recent transfer window. The 23-year-old is under contract for another four years and is valued by Transfermarkt as being worth $122m (£93m/€110m). Only 12 players on Earth are worth more, at least according to that source.

Rodrygo also earns $268k (£205k/€240k) a week in Madrid, per FBRef . That would make him Liverpool’s third highest earner even before the pay rise which all players would ask for when making a move.

Now compare that with Chiesa, who is joint-fifth in the salary standings at Liverpool. His four year contract plus transfer fee and add-ons still only comes to around $58m (£44m/€52m) in total, approximately half of what Rodrygo is said to be worth before his sizeable wages come into play.

It’s fair to ask who is the better player, with the Real Madrid man not having the injury history that Chiesa carries. But on a value for money basis, Liverpool has signed the right player. After all, neither has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or.