Football

Superstars who should have won the Ballon d’Or instead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

March 28, 2023
sporteye

Stars from Portugal and Argentina have ruled the international scene for the past 20 years.

The Ballon d’Or, sometimes known as the “Golden Ball,” was established by the French news publication France Football in 1956, and it has since evolved into the sport’s highest individual distinction. There is no questioning the magnificence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but some footballers could feel slighted since their accomplishments did not receive the recognition they deserved.

Some of the finest athletes in history are included on this list, and everyone of them ought to have taken home at least one gold medal. Players like World Cup champion Manuel Neuer and Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk were left out of this illustrious competition. Before Luka Modric won the prestigious trophy in 2018, the two giants Messi and Ronaldo had turned it into a personal contest and won it each time between themselves starting in 2008.

Here are some of the players who should have won the Ballon d’Or instead of the illustrious pair:

 

Xavi Hernandez – (2009,2011)

One of the finest midfielders to ever play the game, Xavi Hernandez is often regarded as the greatest Spanish player in history. Xavi, who was ranked six for Barcelona and eight for Spain, led Pep Guardiola’s game-changing squad of the late aughts. He is known as “The Puppet Master” due to his talent for controlling video games.

The Spaniard was able to manage the game’s course while retaining possession because of his excellent ball control, accurate passing, and vision. Xavi personified La Liga and its nation’s dominance, helping La Roja reign supreme on the international scene with two European Championship victories sandwiched between World Cup success in South Africa. Despite his crucial presence, it was challenging to stand out on a team with so many superstars. He consistently placed third from 2009 to 2011, making him the best in his position at that time.

 

 

Wesley Sneijder – (2010)

Wesley Sneijder, one of the most complete players of his generation, was the odds-on favourite to take home the Ballon d’Or in 2010. It is absurd that Sneijder has never placed among the top three in the standings during his career. The Dutchman was the creative backbone of Inter Milan’s 2009–10 treble-winning squad after losing favour at Real Madrid. At Inter Milan, Wesley Sneijder had an immediate effect and assisted the group in capturing the Serie A and Champions League titles in 2010.

Sneijder, who could play as a deep-lying playmaker or as a number 10, controlled the play for his team and frequently made the difference between winning and losing. Even Barcelona star Xavi expressed dissatisfaction at not being included in the top 3 that year, demonstrating Sneijder’s influence. “As for Sneijder, I know that in Italy they are angry because he is not one of the finalists,” Xavi remarked in a 2010 interview with Sport. I can’t help but concur with them. The Dutchman’s year has been great.

 

 

Andres Iniesta – (2010 and 2012)

Iniesta continues to be one of the most graceful players to ever grace the centre of a soccer pitch, with eight for Barca and six for Spain. Although his friendship with Xavi is well known, Iniesta wasn’t just a one-position player, and over the course of his team’s development, he was able to develop relationships with other elite players. Iniesta was named the best player of the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League season in addition to winning the 2012 UEFA Best Player in Europe award. He finished second to Lionel Messi for the FIFA Ballon d’Or in 2010 and took third in 2012. This Spanish icon is without a doubt the best player who has never won FIFA’s Ballon d’Or award when it comes to the beautiful game.

 

 

Frank Ribery – 2013

It was widely believed that Franck Ribery would take home the 2013 Ballon d’Or, but Cristiano Ronaldo ultimately prevailed. In spite of complaints that the voting procedure was “unfair,” Lionel Messi ultimately placed ahead of the former Bayern Munich great. Nine years later, Ribery is still bitter about not receiving the honour. It continues to be the Ballon d’Or that has generated the greatest controversy.

Ribery led Bayern Munich to a historic treble at the time, taking home the Bundesliga, Champions League, and DFB-Pokal. He was generally expected to win the honour. While the 2013 performances of Ronaldo and Messi cannot be discounted, Ribery may have been more deserving of the Ballon d’Or than these two footballing greats.

 

 

Robert Lewandoski – 2021

Robert Lewandowski, a forwards for Bayern Munich and a member of the Polish national team, was considered unlucky to miss out on the 2020 Ballon d’Or award, which was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, in honour of his record-breaking season in which he scored 41 league goals, he received the 2021 Goalscorer of the Year award. It’s incredibly challenging to ignore the fact that Lewy was left out when the award was scrapped for 2020.

He had already helped Bayern win the Bundesliga, DFB Cup, UEFA Champions League, DFL Supercup, Club World Cup, and UEFA Supercup, and he was in the middle of guiding Bayern to an unprecedented sextuple. France Football announced a “best goalscorer” honour prior to the 2021 main award, which some would see as an effort to acknowledge the Polish striker’s lack of recognition.

 

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