Ballon d'Or highlighted value of Atlético's Champions League semi-finals run

Atlético Madrid reached Champions League semi-finals but had no players nominated for the Ballon d'Or, highlighting the team's collective strength over individual star power.

Atlético Madrid's strong 2023-24 campaign saw them reach the Champions League semi-finals and the Copa del Rey final, yet none of their players were nominated for the Ballon d'Or. This stands in contrast to their semi-final opponents: PSG had nine nominees, Bayern Munich four, and Arsenal three.

The absence of any Atlético player from the 30-man shortlist is notable given their deep European run and the fact that the club had the most players in the World Cup final. It underscores how Atlético's success was built on collective performance rather than individual brilliance. While they fell short of titles—losing the Copa del Rey on penalties and exiting the Champions League to Arsenal—reaching the semi-finals marked their return to Europe's elite four for the first time since 2016-17.

Interestingly, new Ballon d'Or winner Harry Kane will play at the Metropolitano next week when Bayern Munich visits Atlético Madrid.