Ballon d'Or 2022: The confirmed 30-player shortlist | OneFootball

France Football have released the 30-player shortlist for the 2022 Ballon d'Or, which will crown the best individual male player of the 2021/22 season.

2021 recipient and seven-time former winner Lionel Messi does not feature for the first time in a very long time, but hot favourite Karim Benzema is joined by the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Kevin De Bruyne, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

Cristiano Ronaldo also makes the cut after 24 club goals for Manchester United last season - his 18th nomination for the award, extending his own record.

More surprising inclusions on the shortlist are Luis Diaz, who only joined Liverpool in January, and Darwin Nunez, who scored plenty of goals for Benfica but didn't win any silverware.

Rafael Leao's contributions to AC Milan's first Serie A title since 2011 have been recognised, as have Christopher Nkunku's excellent numbers for RB Leipzig. But both are massive outsiders.

2022 Ballon d'Or shortlist