Meet the greatest football legends who unfortunately did not win a Ballon d’Or.
He golden ball It is a prize that everyone wants to win. Since the magazine France football The first recognition was granted in 1956. Each year the person considered the best player in the world is rewarded, although this has often not been the case.
Throughout history we have seen great footballers pass, but given the rules initially imposed it was impossible for a player not born in Europe to win the award. It was only in 2009 that it was decided to close the gap so that everyone had the opportunity to participate, regardless of their nationality or the competition in which they played.
Yet over the years we have seen how various legends wanted to win the coveted trophy of the French magazine. Therefore, inside GOAL we will show you everything players who have never won a Ballon d’Or.
FRANCO BARESI
Getty Images
The Italian marked an entire era. With Milan he won three European Cups, a World Cup and six Scudettos. All those accolades didn’t help one of the world’s best defenders win the Ballon d’Or in 1989, the year he was nominated and ultimately defeated by Marco van Basten.
DENNIS BERGKAMP
Getty
Arsenal legend who was part of a great generation of Dutchmen. His fantasy games got him nominated for the 1995 Ballon d’Or, but the award went to Roberto Baggio.
ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO
Getty
The Italian footballer with the most goals in Juventus history has never received recognition from France Football magazine, even though he was a period killer. He also became world champion with the Azzurri, but he wasn’t even nominated.
ARJEN ROBBEN
Getty Images
He led one of the greatest eras for Bayern Munich and came very close to winning a World Cup with the Netherlands. The man with the privileged left leg had his best moment in 2013, when he won every possible title at club level. Despite all his efforts, he was defeated by Cristiano Ronaldo that year.
PAOLO MALDINI
Getty
One of the best defenders of all time, without a doubt. Maldini won five Champions Leagues and seven Scudettos with Milan, but incredibly he was never considered a Ballon d’Or winner, more so than in 2003, when he fell behind Pavel Nedved.
RAUL
Getty Images
Real Madrid’s historic Spanish striker did what he wanted at the Bernabéu. At the time, he broke all the club’s records and was recognized as UEFA’s best striker of the year three times in a row. However, he lost the battle for the Ballon d’Or to Michael Owen in 2001.
THIERRY HENRY
Getty Images
The Frenchman had excellent individual technique, which led him to be nominated for the prize in 2003. To the surprise of many, he lost to Pavel Nedved.
XAVI HERNANDEZ
image images
One of the best midfielders in all of history. He managed Barcelona for many years. He won the sextet with Guardiola and a World Cup with Spain. Although he was among the best in the world, he was always left out in the battle for the Ballon d’Or.
ANDRES INIESTA
Getty Images
Xavi’s great ally and the culprit of Spain’s first World Cup, in South Africa in 2010. The man from La Mancha made fans fall in love with his quality, but it was never enough to win a Ballon d’Or . teammate Lionel Messi accepts the award.
DIEGO MARADONA
Getty
There is no need to describe everything Diego has achieved. Ahead of its time. He made an entire country fall in love with him, he made them believe that anything was possible to win a World Cup and in 1986 he achieved that at the highest level. He put Napoli on the map, winning two league titles, a Coppa Italia and even a UEFA Cup. Unfortunately, Maradona could not even be among the nominees, as in his time the award was not awarded to a player who was not European.
Source: Goal