Best Football Players Who Never Won the Ballon d'Or
The Ballon d'Or is the most prestigious individual award in football. Since its inception in 1956, it has been awarded to the best player in the world, as voted by journalists. Winning it is a career-defining achievement that separates the great from the all-time greats. However, the award has its controversies and its share of snubs. Some of the finest players in history never won the Ballon d'Or, whether due to unfortunate timing, being overshadowed by generational talents, or simply being overlooked. This article honours the best players never to win football's most famous individual prize.
Thierry Henry is arguably the greatest player never to win the Ballon d'Or. The French striker finished second in 2003 and 2006. In 2003, he was beaten by Pavel Nedved after leading Arsenal to the Premier League title and scoring 24 goals. In 2006, he finished behind Fabio Cannavaro after Arsenal reached the Champions League final and Henry scored 27 goals. Many believe Henry deserved to win in 2003, given his dominance in the Premier League. Henry's blend of pace, power, and technique was unprecedented in English football. He won the World Cup and European Championship with France, became Arsenal's all-time leading scorer, and revolutionized the striker position with his ability to drift wide and create as well as finish. His four Premier League Golden Boots and two Premier League titles are a testament to his sustained excellence. The Ballon d'Or's failure to recognize him remains one of its greatest oversights.
Xavi and Andres Iniesta are the most notable midfield duo never to win the Ballon d'Or. Both were central to Barcelona's and Spain's unprecedented run of success between 2008 and 2012. Xavi, the metronome, dictated play with his extraordinary passing and football intelligence. Iniesta, the magician, scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final and produced moments of magic in the biggest games. The problem for both was that their peak coincided with Lionel Messi, who won the Ballon d'Or four times between 2009 and 2012. Xavi finished third in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Iniesta finished second in 2010 and fourth in 2012. Both were victims of playing in the same era as the greatest player of all time. Xavi's passing statistics are unmatched: he completed more passes than any other player in La Liga history and maintained a 90% plus completion rate throughout his prime. Iniesta's dribbling in tight spaces and ability to deliver in crucial moments made him the ultimate big-game player. The Ballon d'Or's failure to award either player is understandable given Messi's dominance but remains a talking point.
Robert Lewandowski's case is perhaps the most controversial of modern times. The Polish striker was arguably the best player in the world in 2020 when he scored 55 goals in 47 matches, leading Bayern Munich to a treble including the Champions League. The Ballon d'Or was cancelled that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, denying Lewandowski his best chance. In 2021, he finished second to Lionel Messi, despite scoring 41 goals and breaking Gerd Muller's long-standing Bundesliga single-season record. Many observers felt Lewandowski deserved the 2021 award after being denied in 2020. His incredible consistency, finishing ability, and all-round game make him one of the greatest strikers of all time. He has won the Champions League, multiple Bundesliga titles, and been named FIFA Best Men's Player twice. The Ballon d'Or remains the one major individual honour that has eluded him.
Gianluigi Buffon, the greatest goalkeeper ever, never won the Ballon d'Or. Goalkeepers are historically disadvantaged in Ballon d'Or voting, with only Lev Yashin winning the award in 1963. Buffon's best finish was second in 2006, when he captained Italy to World Cup victory and conceded only two goals in the entire tournament. Fabio Cannavaro, Italy's centre-back, won the award instead, the last defender to do so. Buffon also finished fourth in 2015 and 2017 and seventh in 2003. His longevity and sustained excellence over 25 years at the highest level make his failure to win the Ballon d'Or one of the award's most significant oversights. Buffon's shot-stopping, command of the box, and leadership were unmatched. He won 12 Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year awards and was named in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team as the greatest goalkeeper of all time. Yet the main award never came.
Paolo Maldini, the greatest defender of all time, never won the Ballon d'Or. His best finish was third in 1994 and 2003. In 1994, he led AC Milan to the Champions League final victory over Barcelona and captained Italy to the World Cup final. Hristo Stoichkov won the award that year. In 2003, Maldini won the Champions League again at 35, but Pavel Nedved took the award. Like Buffon, Maldini suffered from the Ballon d'Or's historical bias against defenders and midfielders. Only two defenders have won the award: Franz Beckenbauer (1972, 1976) and Matthias Sammer (1996). Maldini's extraordinary longevity, positioning, and one-on-one defending made him the benchmark for defensive excellence. His five Champions League titles and seven Serie A titles are among the most decorated careers in football history.
Raul Gonzalez, Real Madrid's symbol for over a decade, never won the Ballon d'Or. His best finish was second in 2001, when he lost to Michael Owen. Raul scored 323 goals for Real Madrid and won three Champions League titles and six La Liga titles. His movement, finishing, and big-game performances made him one of the most feared strikers of his generation. He was Real Madrid's all-time leading scorer until Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed him. The Ballon d'Or's failure to recognize Raul is partly due to his playing style being less flashy than other nominees and the strength of his competition.
Virgil van Dijk is the most recent high-profile player to miss out on the Ballon d'Or. The Dutch centre-back finished second in 2019 after leading Liverpool to Champions League glory and finishing second in the Premier League with 97 points. His dominance at the back transformed Liverpool into a European powerhouse. Lionel Messi won the award that year after an outstanding individual season, but many argued that Van Dijk's impact and Liverpool's success deserved recognition. Only three defenders have ever finished in the top two: Franz Beckenbauer, Fabio Cannavaro, and Van Dijk. His failure to win reflects the persistent bias against defenders in Ballon d'Or voting.
The Ballon d'Or list of players who never won reads like a hall of fame itself: Xavi, Iniesta, Henry, Lewandowski, Buffon, Maldini, Raul, Van Dijk, Neymar, Sergio Ramos, Andrea Pirlo, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Ronaldinho won it actually. Ronaldinho won in 2005. Let me correct: Ronaldinho DID win. Other notable names include Frank Lampard (finished second in 2005), Didier Drogba (fourth in 2007), Gareth Bale, Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos, Karim Benzema won in 2022, so no. Luka Modric won in 2018. The list of snubs demonstrates that the Ballon d'Or, while prestigious, does not define greatness. Many of the players on this list are considered among the best ever at their positions and their legacies are secure regardless of the award. The Ballon d'Or captures one moment in time, but true greatness is measured over an entire career.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the biggest Ballon d'Or snub of all time?
Thierry Henry and Robert Lewandowski are the two biggest snubs. Henry finished second in 2003 and 2006, with many believing he deserved to win in 2003 after dominating the Premier League. Lewandowski was denied his best chance in 2020 when the award was cancelled due to COVID-19, then finished second to Messi in 2021. Xavi and Iniesta, who were central to Barcelona's and Spain's golden era, also have strong cases as they never won despite being the best midfielders in the world.
Should Xavi or Iniesta have won the Ballon d'Or?
Xavi or Iniesta deserved to win the Ballon d'Or in 2010, when both finished behind Lionel Messi. Spain won the World Cup that year, and both midfielders were central to the victory. Iniesta scored the winning goal in the final, while Xavi was the tournament's best player. Many argued that a Spanish player should have won given the national team's dominance. However, Messi's individual brilliance in 2010 was so extraordinary that the decision was defensible. The split in votes between Xavi and Iniesta ultimately helped Messi win.
What happened with Robert Lewandowski and the 2020 Ballon d'Or?
The 2020 Ballon d'Or was cancelled by France Football due to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite Bayern Munich winning the Champions League and Lewandowski scoring 55 goals in 47 matches. Many believe Lewandowski would have won easily. In 2021, he finished second to Lionel Messi despite breaking Gerd Muller's Bundesliga goal record. The cancellation remains one of the most controversial decisions in Ballon d'Or history, as Lewandowski was at the absolute peak of his powers.
Who is the best defender never to win the Ballon d'Or?
Paolo Maldini is the best defender never to win the Ballon d'Or, finishing third twice. Gianluigi Buffon is the best goalkeeper never to win, finishing second in 2006. The Ballon d'Or has historically been biased against defenders and goalkeepers. Only two defenders (Beckenbauer, Sammer) and one goalkeeper (Yashin) have won the award in its entire history. Virgil van Dijk's second-place finish in 2019 was the closest a modern defender has come.
Which Ballon d'Or winner was the most undeserving?
The most controversial Ballon d'Or winners include Michael Owen (2001), who won largely based on a few months of brilliance for Liverpool, and Pavel Nedved (2003), who edged out Thierry Henry. Fabio Cannavaro's 2006 win was controversial because while he had an excellent World Cup, some felt Ronaldinho or Henry had better club seasons. More recently, Lionel Messi's 2021 win over Robert Lewandowski was disputed given Lewandowski's superior goal-scoring numbers. The award's subjective nature means there will always be debate.