Two shock names emerged in the race for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, according to reports in France.

Two shock names emerged in the race for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, according to reports in France.

For the first time in almost two decades, neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi are in the conversation for the Ballon d’Or.

Indeed, the pair have won 13 Ballon d’Ors between them, with Messi having claimed eight, including last year’s edition, and Ronaldo on five.

But this year, with the duo in the twilight of their respective careers, a new generation of players is set to contest for football’s most lauded individual honour.

Real Madrid duo Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr have long been in the conversation for this year’s Ballon d’Or, with the former having starred in his first season with the La Liga giants, setting up the latter to score in the Champions League final.

Meanwhile, Manchester City’s Rodri is also thought to be among the leading contenders, having helped his club to a record fourth-successive Premier League title and won Spain’s record fourth European Championship title.

Martinez scored the winner in the Copa America final (Getty)

However, according to L’Equipe Argentina star Lautaro Martinez is also in contention for the Ballon d’Or, after scoring five goals in his six Copa America games, including the winner in Sunday’s final.

For Inter last term, Martinez also racked up 24 goals and provided six assists in 33 games for Inter, who claimed the Serie A title.

Meanwhile, the publication has also alleged that Dani Carvajal is in the running.

The right-back won his fourth La Liga title and his sixth Champions League crown at Real Madrid last season, scoring the opening goal in the latter’s final.

Carvajal was also a regular in the Spain team as they won Euro 2024, beating England 2-1 in the competition’s final.

Roy Keane has revealed every detail from his brutal 10-minute meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson which ended his Manchester United career.

Keane enjoyed a legendary spell at Man United under Ferguson, but his time at the club came to an abrupt end in 2005.

He left by mutual consent after giving an explosive interview on MUTV, where he ripped into his own teammates.

The outburst was deemed too damning by Man United as Ferguson and David Gill called an emergency meeting, where they terminated his contract.

The exchange between Keane, Ferguson and Gill lasted a mere 10 minutes, leaving the former Man United captain's solicitor stunned.

The Irishman has insisted that he feels blameless for his bitter departure as he underlined his disgust at Ferguson and Gill.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast - brought you by Sky Bet, he said: "I get my anger is obviously a long time ago but the worst anger you can have is the justified anger where you feel - again I feel - I hadn't done anything wrong.

"I was 34, I had a broken foot, and my contract was coming up, it was an easy fix for [Manchester] United to go, 'Your days are numbered, alright, cheers, thanks a lot' - and I've seen players leave but I could have left in the summer.

"My solicitor, my client, who did all my deals, the most relaxed, placid man you’d ever meet, I’ve seen him negotiate - a very good man and knew a good deal - but he almost fell off his chair.

"Ferguson and [David] Gill went, 'We’ve come to the end and here’s a statement'. I was like, ‘'Alright' and he was like, 'What?!' I said, 'Leave it Mike', and they went out and I said, 'Yeah, I’m out of here', and he [my solicitor] couldn’t believe it - all within ten minutes."

Roy Keane and Sir Alex Ferguson raise the Premier League trophy. Image: Getty

Keane added: "I just think if people think that little of you, I’m not going to go, 'Well you know, I’m going to see my contract out'. Believe it or not, I thought too much of the club. I could have easily gone, 'Is that what you think of me? But I’ll see out my contract, I’ll come in everyday'.

"In hindsight, [I could have said], 'We’ve come to the end, yeah, but I’ve got a contract with Manchester United just like you do with United' - you’re on about principles but when something like that is in front of me, I’m like disgusted with people, I go, 'I wouldn’t even want to see you again'.

"I was home by half nine, quarter to ten, my wife’s gone, 'What’s happened?', I went, 'It’s over'. They still hadn’t done my termination, and Mike was like, 'I can’t believe it’s happening' and then statements came out, then I found out that day I couldn’t go to another team - so I couldn’t play until January.

"If I’d have known, I would have said, 'I’ll just train with the reserves and get myself fit', so I left Manchester United having not played for two or three months with a broken foot, and I couldn’t go to anyone until January. I was in no man’s land."