The iconic football greats of all time did not make it onto the Men's World Team of the Year produced by the global players' union FIFPRO on Monday.
Messi, 37, who presently plays for the Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, and Ronaldo, 39, who plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, were voted onto the 26-man shortlist by FIFPRO just last week, exactly as the only players not from European clubs.
The team of this year had six players from record 15-time Champions League winner Real Madrid and four from Premier League heavyweight Manchester City. Virgil van Dijk, the lone other player chosen, is Liverpool's stand-out center half.
A World XI was made on basis of the vote cast by professional players in 70 countries around the world.
City's Ederson is in goal. Madrid duo Dani Carvajal and Antonio Rüdiger join the Dutchman in defense.
A stellar midfield saw Jude Bellingham and Toni Kroos (Madrid) picked alongside playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and Ballon d'Or winner Rodri from City.
Prolific City striker Erling Haaland is joined in a star-studded attack with Kylian Mbappé and his Madrid clubmate Vinicius Jr.
This is the first time since 2006 that Messi has not been selected. The World Cup winner in Argentina-at record number eight by Ballon d'Or-holds the record after being voted into that team 17 times. Ronaldo has been selected 15 times but last appeared in 2021.
FIFPRO has been inviting professional footballers from the world to cast votes for their men's team since 2005 and the women's team since 2015. This is the only global football award determined entirely by the players.
A record-breaking 7,000 women's players voted.
The defender, former Barcelona player Lucy Bronze, picked up her seventh selection to match Wendie Renard of Lyon and France.
Two-time women's Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí is in midfield after helping Barcelona win the Spanish league, the Spanish cup and the Champions League.
Brazilian veteran Marta, 38, returned for the first time since 2021, while 24-year-old Zambia striker Barbra Banda (Shanghai Shengli and Orlando Pride) became the first African woman to make the team of the year.
England's Mary Earps (Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain) was chosen as goalkeeper with Olga Carmona (Real Madrid and Spain) and Alex Greenwood (Manchester City and England) also in defense.
Alexia Putellas joined countrywoman Bonmatí in an all-Barcelona midfield alongside England's Keira Walsh.
The attack features Colombia's Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid) and England's Lauren James (Chelsea).