Kane among three of England's World Cup stars to make Ballon d'Or shortlist

At 41 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo's name not appearing in the Ballon d'Or nominations is not a shocking revelation. This is especially true after his average performance in recent World Cup campaigns. Despite another impressive season with Al Nassr, Ronaldo remains absent from the nominees list. However, two Saudi Pro League stars have managed to secure their spots: Sadio Mane and Julian Quinones.

So, what sets these two apart from Ronaldo? Mane's case is bolstered by his performance in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Although the title was initially awarded to Morocco, Mane was named Player of the Tournament by the Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) after his team's victory. He contributed two goals and three assists in seven matches during the tournament.

Mane also helped Al Nassr win their first league title in nine years. In the 2025/26 season, he scored 10 goals and provided six assists in 25 Saudi Pro League appearances. Quinones, on the other hand, had a stellar individual season in the Saudi Pro League. He scored 33 goals, earning the Golden Boot, and made 14 Man of the Match appearances.

Across the entire 2025/26 season, he scored 37 goals in 35 matches, including four World Cup goals for Mexico. Ronaldo's numbers, while impressive, do not quite reach the heights of Mane and Quinones. His 28 goals in the Saudi Pro League and three World Cup goals at 41 years old speak volumes about his talent. However, Mane's AFCON triumph, Quinones' World Cup heroics, and Ronaldo's teammate Joao Felix's award as the Saudi Pro League Player of the Year all contribute to the reasons behind their nominations.