10 Deserving Players Who Never Won the Ballon d’Or
The Uncrowned Kings
The Ballon d'Or has long faced controversy due to numerous deserving omissions. Historically, eligibility rules prevented icons like Pele and Diego Maradona from being recognized, while more recently, players such as Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland have been controversially overlooked, fueling the debate over the award's fairness.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Swedish icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic is considered by many to have deserved a Ballon d'Or for his dominance across multiple top European leagues, scoring over 570 career goals. His finished 4th in 2013, after a spectacular season with Paris Saint-Germain, but he was ultimately overshadowed by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Neymar Jr.
One of the most gifted footballers of the era, Neymar Jr. should have won a Ballon d'Or for his unmatched skills, goal-scoring, and playmaking abilities. He was the creative force behind Barcelona's 2015 Champions League triumph and finished third in the Ballon d'Or voting in both 2015 and 2017, falling slightly short.
Wesley Sneijder
Dutch icon Wesley Sneijer is said to been unfairly overlooked for the Ballon d'Or, particularly in 2010, when he won the continental treble with Inter Milan and subsequently led the Netherlands to the World Cup Final. He finished as a joint top-scorer at the 2010 World Cup, but finished fourth in the Ballon d'Or rankings.
Virgil van Djik
Virgil van Dijk finished a close runner-up to Lionel Messi on the 2019 Ballon d'Or rankings, losing by just 7 points. During that year, he had guided Liverpool to the UCL title, and was named both the UEFA Player of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season, with his exceptional form a reason why he deserved the award.
Dennis Bergkamp
Dennis Bergkamp is regarded as one of the most technically gifted forwards of his generation, with his goals defining Arsenal's success in the late 1990s. He finished third in the 1992 Ballon d'Or voting after a superb season with Ajax, and second in 1993, but he was overshadowed by players who achieved national success.
Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski has the most compelling case for not having won the Ballon d'Or award, despite being the overwhelming favorite in 2020. The 2020 Ballon d'Or was controversially canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, after he led Bayern Munich to a historic treble, while scoring an astonishing 55 goals in 47 games.
Xavi
Spanish midfield maestro Xavi deserved to win the Ballon d'Or, for his role in both Barcelona's and Spain's golden eras. He finished third in the rankings for three consecutive years, from 2009 to 2011, during which time he won three UCL titles and the 2010 World Cup, but was ultimately overshadowed by Lionel Messi.
Paolo Maldini
One of the greatest defenders of all time, Paolo Maldini was lauded for his leadership, and longevity, which saw him win five UCL titles and play over 900 matches for AC Milan. He deserved the Ballon d'Or for his monumental defensive contributions, particularly in 1994, and again in 2003, but finished third on both occasions.
Thierry Henry
Another player who was controversially denied the Ballon d'Or, Frenchman Thierry Henry finished runner-up in the 2003 voting, despite phenomenal statistics of 32 goals and 28 assists for Arsenal. Hisexceptional form saw him dominate the Premier League, but was overlooked in favor of Juventus icon Pavel Nedved.
Andres Iniesta
Barcelona and Spain icon Andres Iniesta had one of the strongest claims for a missed Ballon d'Or, primarily for his pivotal role in Spain's 2010 World Cup victory, where he scored the winning goal in the final. The finished as runner-up in 2010, and third in 2012, with many believing his impact in the WC final should have guaranteed him the prize.
