Vincent Garcia says the Portuguese "didn't shine at the World Cup and plays in a league with limited visibility"
Vincent Garcia, editor-in-chief of France Football and one of the main people responsible for awarding the Ballon d'Or, gave an interview to the German portal TZ where he talked about the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, who for the first time since 2004 not among those nominated for the award.
"Ronaldo's absence was not at all a topic of discussion among the committee. He did not shine at the World Cup and he plays in a league that has limited visibility [Saudi Arabia]. Still, he continues to be a great player", he said, before addressing the 'leaks' that point to Messi as the favorite.
"There have always been rumors. This is a game for the media. We understand the desire to announce the Ballon d'Or winner in advance, but we shouldn't always believe the rumors. " he continued.
Garcia also praised Bellingham, considering that the English midfielder is "a serious candidate for the Ballon d'Or" in the future. "He is [a player] really impressive. He's a serious candidate, especially if he continues to perform well at Real Madrid and if England shine in the EURO2024. He's a versatile, intelligent and very mature player for his age," he concluded.