MOSCOW, Aug 12 Forward of the French «Paris Saint-Germain» and the national team Argentina's Lionel Messi was not included in the list of 30 contenders for the prize of the best football player «Golden Ball» presented by France Football magazine, according to the award page on Twitter. The captain of the Argentina national team holds the record for the number of received «Golden Balls» (7). He won this prize in 2021. For the first time since 2005, Messi was not among the 30 contenders for the Golden Ball. In 2022, the Golden Ball will be awarded for the first time at the end of the season, and not the calendar year. The awards ceremony will take place on October 17 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Last season, Messi made 34 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain in all competitions, scoring six goals and making 15 assists, becoming the French champions with the Parisians.
