Players who have never won a Ballon d’Or
Since 2008, Messi and Ronaldo have dominated European football. They managed to win the respected award, the Ballon d’Or, almost every year. There were extraordinary talents who could have won if the deadly duo had not existed. The players whose performances were great but fell short due to the astonishing and unbelievable performence of Messi and Ronaldo.
Fernando Torres
The Spanish CF was on fire in the year 2008 when he played for Liverpool and Spain. scored 33 goals in 46 games at club level. He scored the goal that won Spain the European Championship in the final against Germany. Overall, it can be said that Torres has had a great career, but if there was a year where he could strongly claim his right to this French award, it would be 2008. But it was the year of the Portuguese who played at Manchester United back then.
Xavi
The midfield maestro is considered one of the best midfilders to ever play the game. Xavi would have received at least two ballon d’ors. In the year when the world saw Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona win a treble of the Spanish title, Copa del Rey and Champion League, Xavi finished third in 2009 after scoring 10 in 54 appearances for Barcelona. That year, Messi lifted his first ever Ballon d’Or title, beating Christiano Ronaldo by 240 points.
In the year 2011, Catalan side won both LaLiga and the Champions League titles. Xavi finished in third place. Xavi had 8 assists and 14 goals that season. The midfielder was definitely a strong contender for the French award. Xavi would have finished 2nd if Ronaldo had not scored 55 goals that season and would have been behind Messi, who scored a whooping 73 goals. Xavi was a big part of Barcelona’s dominance over Europe.
Andres Iniesta
Iniesta was regarded as a top contender for the award in 2010 and 2012. Iniesta played a huge role in Spain’s World Cup victory. The midfielder scored a 116th-minute winner in the final against the Netherlands in 2010. At the club, he managed to score nine goals and played a vital role as Barcelona managed to win the Spanish title. In 2012, Don Andres finished 3rd in the Ballon d’Or ranking. The spanish maestro was considered a key figure in Spain’s Euro 2012 title. The Blaugrana managed to win another Spanish title where he scored 8 goals and 17 assists. The majority of them were to Messi, who scored 91 goals in a calendar year that year. The Argentinian won his fourth Ballon d’Or the same year.
Franck Ribery
Ribery had a great season in 2013, and Beyern Munich won a treble. They won the Bundesliga, the German Cup and the Champions League. The French winger found the net 16 times in 39 games. However, the voting deadline for the award was extended. During that extension, Ronaldo scored a hat-trick for Portugal in the World Cup qualifiers, and that sent Portugal further in the competition. Ronaldo also scored 55 goals in 55 games for Real Madrid. Ronaldo won that year, breaking Leo Messi’s streak of four Ballon d’Ors. Ribery was the victim that year.
Manuel Neuer
Manuel Neuer finished in third place in 2014, behind Messi and Ronaldo. Many argue that the Beyern Munich goalkeeper should have won that year due to his excellent performance that year, especially at the 2014 World Cup. He performed exceptionally and won the tournament that year. Cristiano won that year for his performance and for winning the Champions League and Copa del Rey. Lev Yashin won the Ballon d’Or in 1963, and he happens to be the only goalkeeper to have won the award.
Neymar Jr
During his barca days, him lifting this prestegious trophy seemed obvious. If Ronaldo and Messi were not playing football, the Brazilian would have received an award at least twice. 2015 and 2017 would have been the years for this entertainer. He was ranked third both years. Neymar scored 39 goals and won the Spanish title, Champions League and Copa del Rey at Barcelona, Unfortunate for him so did Messi. The Argentinian scored 58 goals in 54 games and won the French award that year. Neymar’s goal count may have dropped in 2017, but his overall influence in the game was strong. His Ballon d’Or ranking that year was 3rd. He was the most impactful in Barca’s impossible comeback against PSG in the Champions League, scoring twice and providing the winning assist to Sergio Roberto. In the summer he broke the transfer record and left Barcelona for PSG. Neymar is currently 30 years old and he’s got a few seasons ahead. Hopefully he gets to wear the French crown at least once.
Virgil Van Dijk
The Dutchman was behind Leo Messi that year. Van Dijk led his country to the UEFA Nations League final and at club level he won Champiopns League. Messi’s miraculous display that season won him the award, but it certainly was a close call between both. Van Dijk said when asked about who should win the award. he said Messi should win the award as he was the best player. Cudos to him for showing great sportsmanship. Van Dijk has been piller for Liverpool and he was a major part of their winning streak in the 2019/20 season, which led the Reds to win their first title in 30 years.
Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski was a leading contender for the award in 2021 , but Leo Messi won. For the past three or four seasons, the Beyern Munich striker has been unstoppable. In the league and Champions League alone Lewa scored 49 in just 37 games. In all the other competitions, he scored 15 more for Beyern Munich. The striker helped Poland qualify for the 2022 World Cup. In 2020, if the ceremony had taken place, Robert would have won it. It was that clear. Even Leo Messi mentioned it in his acceptance speech in 2021.
“I would like to mention Robert Lewandowski. It’s been a real honour to compete with you. Everyone knows and we agree that you were the winner last year
I think France Football should award you our 2020 Ballon d’Or-you deserve it and you should have it at home.”
In france, during his acceptance speech,
Lewa still has not slowed down. He has been performing well, and he is surely a potential Ballon d’Or winner in coming seasons.
This just proves how dominant these two have been throughout the years. What they have achieved just seems unattainable. The consitancy of their outstanding performances vaulted them into the ranks of the greatest football players of all time.
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