MANCHESTER, England (AP) — No Lionel Messi. No Cristiano Ronaldo.
When the Ballon d'Or is presented at a gala ceremony in Paris on Monday, it will feel like the start of a new era in soccer. There is also a sense of void now that one of sport's most engrossing rivalries is likely over.
“It’s interesting that as it starts to come to an end, we are sort of saying, what’s the next equivalent rivalry going to be," soccer author Jonathan Wilson told The Associated Press. "As if that kind of rivalry was a natural state. But there’s never been a rivalry like that before.”
Messi and Ronaldo won soccer’s most prestigious individual award a combined 13 times over a 16-year period of unprecedented dominance. Neither has been nominated this year.
Instead Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior is the favorite to be crowned the world's best player and become the first winner born this century.
He underlined his credentials this week with a stunning Champions League hat trick against Borussia Dortmund.
“Vinicius had an incredible season where he was a key player... he proved he’s the best player in the world,” Madrid teammate Lucas Vazquez said.
But rather than Vinicius spearheading a new era of dominance, it seems likely the award will revert to a time before Messi and Ronaldo when multiple winners were relatively rare.
France great Zinedine Zidane, for instance, only won it once. The same goes for Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Luis Figo and George Best. Originally limited to European players, it was never won by Pele or Diego Maradona.
Before Messi, the last player to win back-to-back awards was Dutch striker Marco van Basten in 1988 and '89.
Messi won a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or last year after leading Argentina to triumph at the World Cup in 2022. Wilson, who wrote about the history of Argentinian soccer in his book “Angels With Dirty Faces,” sees no obvious successor to the Barcelona great, now at Inter Miami.
“Messi’s been phenomenal for 17, 18 years,” he said. "It’s not a pure tallying process, but in terms of greatness over a protracted period, Messi is the greatest there has ever been by quite some margin.
“I don’t think there’s anybody in the world now who has anything remotely close to that talent."
Such was the dominance of Messi and Ronaldo, not only would Vinicius Junior become the first winner born this century, but there has never even been a recipient born in the '90s.
Vinicius Junior, whose goals helped Madrid to a record-extending 15th European Cup last season, is part of a new generation of stars that are flourishing as Messi and Ronaldo reach the final stages of their careers.
Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal make up a field of contenders who could challenge for years to come.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri is second favorite to win this year and would become the first player born in the '90s to take the award.
Mbappe, who has long-been seen as the heir to Messi and Ronaldo as the world’s best player, was born in 1998, meaning it’s likely there will eventually be a winner from that decade even if Rodri misses out.
The only other winners since Ronaldo won his first Ballon d'Or in 2008 were Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022. Both were born in the 1980s.
The award was cancelled in 2020, when Robert Lewandowski was widely regarded the best player that year. He was also born in the '80s.
Neymar, born in 1992, came third on two occasions.
The Ballon d’Or was created by France Football magazine and has been awarded since 1956. It is voted for by journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings.
Each journalist, one per country, selects 10 players in ranked order, with points attributed to each position. The winner is the player who receives the most points.
The dominance of Messi and Ronaldo in the age of social media, has heightened the profile of the award.
Players talk of their dream to win it in a manner they may have spoken about the Champions League and World Cup in the past.
The potential to win it is used during transfer negotiations, with clauses added to contracts stipulating a buying club will pay extra costs if a player goes on to be crowned the best player in the world.
While Vinicius appears to be in pole position this year, Mbappe vs. Haaland has the potential to develop into a new rivalry for the award — particularly given they are strikers for Madrid and Manchester City, respectively, the two best teams in Europe in recent years.
“That whole idea of rivalries and sort of head-to-head, one-v-ones is just such a big part of football now,” soccer author Matt Oldfield told The Associated Press. “People want to be able to simplify it to one-v-one, and I think the Mbappe-Haaland debate will be the leading one.”
Oldfield writes children's books about soccer and on visits to schools he gauges the popularity of players among young fans.
His latest series is called “The Football GOAT (greatest of all time)."
The first book in the series centered around Messi and Ronaldo. The next is about Mbappe and Haaland: “We’re kind of moving beyond Messi and Ronaldo now,” he said.
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. Real Madrid won 5-2. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
FILE - Former Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo poses for the media with his five Golden Ball trophies prior the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, on Dec. 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
FILE - Argentina's national team player Lionel Messi receives the 2023 Ballon d'Or trophy during the 67th Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) award ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, on Oct. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Kyler Murray never lost confidence. Even with the Arizona Cardinals down by two scores in the fourth quarter, he knew he was capable of making the plays his team needed.
Murray drove the Cardinals into position for a game-winning field goal by Chad Ryland as time expired for the second straight week, and Arizona spoiled Tua Tagovailoa's return from a concussion, beating the Miami Dolphins 28-27 on Sunday.
“I like us,” Murray said. "I want the ball in my hands. I want the ball in our hands. With the guys that we have offensively, as long as we stay on schedule and we execute, I think we can be one of the best offenses in the league.”
Murray led two scoring drives in the fourth quarter to rally the Cardinals from a nine-point deficit. The first ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by James Conner that got Arizona within 27-25. The second was a methodical 13-play, 71-yard march that took the final 5:01 and ended with Ryland's 34-yard kick. A week earlier, Ryland was good from 32 yards on the last play to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 17-15.
The Cardinals (4-4) won consecutive games for the first time since Oct. 24, 2021, and they had a pair of 100-yard receivers for the first time since A.J. Green and Christian Kirk did it on Sept. 26, 2021. Rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. had 111 yards and a touchdown on six catches, and tight end Trey McBride led the Cardinals with nine catches for 124 yards.
“It feels great,” Harrison said. “It does feel great.”
Tagovailoa threw for 234 yards, and the Dolphins (2-5) had their best offensive performance of the season in his first start since he was diagnosed with the third known concussion of his career on Sept. 12 against Buffalo. He was designated to return on Monday after doctors deemed it safe for him to play. He cleared the concussion protocol Friday following an examination by an independent neurological consultant.
Tagovailoa was mostly sharp, completing 28 of 38 passes. He lost a fumble on the opening drive that Miami recovered, and a snap went over his head in the third quarter, resulting in a safety.
“I would say I felt like myself," Tagovailoa said. “I've been preparing for five weeks as if I were to play while I was on IR, so it felt normal coming out there.”
Tagovailoa’s first pass was a 16-yard completion to fullback Alec Ingold on Miami’s opening drive, which ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Raheem Mostert. The veteran also had a 6-yard TD run in the fourth.
Miami fans gave a loud ovation when Tagovailoa was introduced and chanted his name after the first scoring drive. But the biggest applause came after Tagovailoa scrambled for a first down in the third and slid to avoid taking a hit, something he didn’t do on the play when he was injured in Week 2.
“I think the biggest thing was he knew his teammates were going to give him a chance to play a pretty clean game,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “He had a good amount of clean pockets, and when he didn't, he was decisive and kept himself out of harm's way.”
Tyreek Hill caught six passes for 72 yards — his first game with at least 70 yards receiving since Week 1. De’Von Achane rushed for 97 yards and had 50 yards receiving with a 12-yard touchdown catch.
“He came back and got the offense going. That was a beautiful thing to see,” Hill said. “We scored some points today, so that’s a positive.”
It was the Dolphins' highest-scoring game of the season; their previous best was 20 points in Week 1.
Murray completed 26 of 36 passes for 307 yards, with a 6-yard touchdown to Michael Wilson and a 22-yard TD to Harrison. He had 19 yards rushing.
Murray showed off his elusiveness, avoiding Jalen Ramsey’s blitz on Arizona's first scoring drive to extend the play and eventually find Wilson open in the end zone. He hasn't been sacked since Week 5.
“They couldn't sack him,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said. “He extended plays a bunch, had a couple of free runners, couple (cover) zeros and got out of them. He's tough back there to get down.”
Harrison beat Ramsey and got a knee down in the end zone to get the Cardinals within 20-18 entering the fourth quarter. A 2-point conversion try failed.
The Dolphins led 13-7 at halftime but their top-ranked pass defense could not contain Murray and Harrison in the second half.
Harrison had catches of 16, 22 and 18 yards on Arizona’s final two scoring drives.
“I try to be someone we can count on to make plays,” Harrison said. “Any time it’s a two-minute drill or we need a big play. I do my best to get open and catch the ball.”
Cardinals: DL Naquan Jones left in the first quarter with a hand injury but came back in the third.
Dolphins: TE Julian Hill injured his shoulder on fumble in the first, but he returned. ... S Jevon Holland left in the second quarter with a knee injury and did not return.
Cardinals: Host Chicago next Sunday.
Dolphins: At Buffalo next Sunday.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) enter the field before the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Dolphins linebackers Tyus Bowser (51) and Jordyn Brooks (20) stop Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner's (6) attempt to score a two-point conversion during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (31) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) aims a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Miami Dolphins place kicker Jason Sanders (7) aims to score a field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) grabs a pass in the enzone for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) grabs a pass for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Miami Dolphins tight end Julian Hill (89) fumbles the ball on a a tackle by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Victor Dimukeje (52) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (31) scores a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (31) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) aims a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Arizona Cardinals place kicker Chad Ryland (38) celebrates after they won the game on a last minute field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) aims a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
