Ballon d'Or 'has lost all credibility' with Liverpool shortlist decision

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk were not among the top 30 players named in the shortlist of 2024 Ballon d'Or nominees .

Salah helped Liverpool to the Carabao Cup, netting 25 goals and dishing out 14 assists across all competitions between August 2023 and July 2024. On the other side of the pitch, Van Dijk, regarded as one of the best defenders in all of football, saw his spot occupied by Mats Hummels and others.

Naturally, fans on social media made their displeasure known , with some claiming the award had lost its luster by omitting two of the biggest stars in the Premier League, who also happen to play for Liverpool.

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"The likes of [Artem] Dobyk and Ruben Dias and [William] Saliba got nominated, but not Virgil van Dijk or Salah," a user posted. "This award has lost some serious credibility lmao."

Another shared that sentiment on X, formerly Twitter, posting: "They don't believe that Mohamed Salah is among the top 30 players in the world. Hahaha wth this award has lost its credibility."

Meanwhile, another fan posted a very simple message, attempting to back how Salah seemingly has been snubbed of major awards in his career. "Change my mind: Mohamed Salah is the most disrespected player in football history," the fan chimed.

Regarding Van Dijk, another fan posted a lengthy response to seeing the Dutch star left off the list. "Virgil van Dijk won Liverpool a trophy & scored in the final in his season as captain, is the best CB in the world, captained his NT to their first Euros semi final in 30 years & has multiple world class performances this season but didn't get nominated for a ballon d'or," the fan began.

"Meanwhile players who have won nothing, been to no finals, have no performances of note and have achieved nothing of note as a part of their team or as an individual all season have got a nomination? Oh ok."

Another fan took aim at rivals Arsenal for having more players on the shortlist than Liverpool had. "What did Declan Rice and William Saliba do this year to a nomination over Virgil Van Dijk? Arsenal's PR is something else. How is Bukayo 'let his nation down' Saka in there over Salah?" the fan pondered.

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Along with Salah and van Dijk, goalkeeper Alisson Becker and former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp were absent from the Ballon d'Or nominations.

In place of Alisson are Giorgi Mamardashvili, Diogo Costa, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Gregor Kobel, Andriy Lunin, Emi Martinez, Unai Simon, Yann Sommer and Ronwen Williams as the nominees.

For the managerial nominees, Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso, Luis de la Fuente, Gian Piero Gasperini, Pep Guardiola and Lionel Scaloni all lead the way.