The most prestigious individual award in football, the Ballon d'Or, often comes with its own set of controversies. The subjective nature of the selection of the best footballer in the world for a season is what sparks the controversy in the first place. While the ones to win it are some of the best footballing talents on the planet, there have been times when the best player was arguably robbed of his trophy.
Here are three such players who were denied a chance to lift the coveted title.
3) Wesley Sneijder ( 2010)
In the 2009-10 season, Lionel Messi showcased his incredible talent, earning his second Ballon d'Or by netting 47 goals and providing 12 assists for Barcelona. His outstanding performance contributed to the team's success, securing both La Liga and the FIFA Club World Cup. However, the pursuit of consecutive Champions League titles was thwarted by Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan.
Wesley Sneijder played a pivotal role for Inter, scoring one goal and assisting another in their 3-1 victory over Barcelona in the first leg of their semi-final match Sneijder continued to shine in the final, contributing an assist in Inter's triumph over Bayern Munich, which culminated in a remarkable treble for Mourinho’s squad.
Sneijder also finished as Fifa World Cup 2010's joint-top scorer and won four Man-of-the-Match awards to underline his influence for the Dutch Side that finished runners-up.
2) Cristiano Ronaldo (2018)
After a remarkable decade dominated by Messi and Ronaldo, the Ballon d'Or saw a refreshing change in 2018 as Luka Modric claimed the prestigious award at the age of 33. Modric's significant contributions were pivotal in Real Madrid's 13th Champions League victory, and he also played a vital role in leading Croatia to an impressive World Cup final appearance in Russia. While he ended the year with three goals and 11 assists, his overall impact on his teams underscores his exceptional talent and leadership on the field.
Ronaldo had an impressive season, scoring 44 goals in just as many matches, including 15 in the Champions League. Many believe he merits recognition for his outstanding performance with a sixth Ballon d'Or. While he chose to maintain a composed demeanour publicly, his sister expressed her views on social media, highlighting the passion fans feel about such decisions.
1) Frank Ribery ( 2013)
The 2013 Ballon d’Or is often regarded as one of the more debated years in the award's history, particularly regarding Franck Ribery's candidacy. Cristiano Ronaldo secured his second Ballon d’Or, five years after his first win, while Lionel Messi finished in second place and Ribery placed third.
Back in 2013, Frank Ribery was considered by many as the top contender for the award, having played a pivotal role in leading Bayern Munich to an impressive treble, which included victories in the Bundesliga, the Champions League, and the DFB-Pokal.
Ribery had an impressive season, scoring 34 goals in various competitions and providing a key assist for Robben in their treble-winning campaign. In contrast, Ronaldo had an outstanding personal performance with 66 goals in 56 games, although his Real Madrid team did not secure any silverware that year.