Ballon d'Or nominations spark controversy in Catalonia

The announcement of the Ballon d'Or nominations has sparked controversy in Catalonia following the exclusion of key FC Barcelona players from the 30-candidate list. Journalist Alfredo Martinez, writing for the Catalan newspaper Sport, questioned the credibility of the award, noting that the omission of Pedri and Raphinha undermines its prestige.

Martinez argued that both players should be considered among the top 10 or 15 footballers in the world. He further criticized the award for evolving into a marketing and image-selling product, suggesting that organizers benefit more from the spectacle than the players themselves. He concluded that a player's greatness is not defined by this specific accolade, citing legendary figures in football history who never won the award.