We have entered a new era. An era without Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as Ballon d’Or winners.
Following a run of dominance dating back to 2003, the Ballon d’Or shortlist from the last two years has not included the two record winners. Between them, Messi and Ronaldo have won 13 Ballon d’Or awards, with the Argentine taking eight. That includes a run of four consecutive awards from 2009 to 2012.
Just three years ago, it looked like the new era had started, with Messi not making the 30-man shortlist and Ronaldo finishing 20th. But Messi bounced back in 2023 to scoop his eighth Ballon d’Or, owing to his role in Argentina winning the World Cup.
Bar the miracle of 2018 and the false dawn of 2022, other stars of the game have missed out on the chance to win the most prestigious individual prize in football. And that doesn’t include 2020, when the award was cancelled.
So, we’ve decided to go back and look at the players who were denied. Who are they? What were their accolades? Below is a list of the players who finished behind the immortal duo in the voting each year since their duopoly began.
Consider this a testament to the players whose performances were outstanding but fell short due to the unbeatable, jaw-dropping and breathtaking efforts by one of history’s best and most prolific goalscorers and one of the greatest players to ever play the game.
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Fernando Torres
- Year: 2008
- Club & country: Liverpool, Spain
- Position: Striker
- Goals in that year: 26
- Ballon d’Or ranking that year: 3rd
You may find it hard to believe (because of all the Chelsea business, where he kind of forgot how to play football), but during the 2007-08 season, Fernando Torres was simply brilliant.
The Spaniard presented a strong claim to win the Ballon d’Or after a sensational season leading the line for Liverpool and Spain. He scored the goal that won La Roja Euro 2008 in the final against Germany and netted 33 goals in 46 games at club level.
Unfortunately, Torres fell short behind Ronaldo (who won the award quite easily) and Messi, but his performances that year were a joy to behold. If only injuries hadn’t robbed him of that electric turn of pace…
Xavi
- Year: 2009
- Club & country: Barcelona, Spain
- Position: Centre Midfield
- Goals in that year: 7
- Ballon d’Or ranking that year: 3rd
Messi picked up his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 after Barcelona won the prestigious Treble of La Liga, the Champions League and Copa del Rey. He finished a huge 240 points clear of rival Ronaldo in second.
Xavi finished third after scoring 10 goals in 54 appearances for the Blaugrana in the 2008-09 campaign. He also assisted Messi for a large portion of his 38 goals in all competitions, including for his header against Manchester United in the Champions League final.
The majestic playmaker’s performances marked the beginning of Barcelona’s European dominance and introduced ‘tiki-taka’ football to the world. Without Xavi’s influence, it is questionable whether a player of Modric’s talents would have won the award in 2018.
Andres Iniesta
- Year: 2010
- Club & country: Barcelona, Spain
- Position: Centre Midfield
- Goals in that year: 11
- Ballon d’Or ranking that year: 2nd
In 2010, Xavi was back to try and topple Messi and Ronaldo’s sturdy perch after another sublime season for Barcelona and with Spain. But this time it was another colleague, Andres Iniesta, who pipped him to second place after Messi took the title for the second year running.
Iniesta played a huge role in Spain’s World Cup victory in South Africa and scored the 116th-minute winner in the final against the Netherlands, before revealing a tribute to his late friend Dani Jarque, who sadly passed away aged 26 the previous year.
At club level, the streamlined midfielder managed nine goals and played a vital midfield role alongside Xavi and Sergio Busquets as Barcelona went on to win another Spanish title in 2009-10.
Behind Iniesta and Xavi in fourth was Wesley Sneijder, who many feel was deserving for his tremendous efforts to help Inter Milan win the Treble and the Netherlands reach the World Cup final. Excluded altogether was Diego Milito, who scored the goals to secure Inter’s three titles.
Xavi (again)
- Year: 2011
- Club & country: Barcelona, Spain
- Position: Centre Midfield
- Goals in that year: 12
- Ballon d’Or ranking that year: 3rd
Barcelona won La Liga and the Champions League during the 2010-11 season, and Messi once again took the Ballon d’Or ahead of Ronaldo.
Xavi finished third for the third time in three years after scoring 14 goals in 51 appearances for the Catalan club.
The Spanish playmaker also grabbed eight assists, and if Ronaldo hadn’t managed an incredible 55 goals in 60 games, then Xavi would have surely finished behind his team-mate in second. Wondering how many Messi scored that season? Just the 73 goals…
Andres Iniesta (again)
- Year: 2012
- Club & country: Barcelona, Spain
- Position: Centre Midfield
- Goals in that year: 8
- Ballon d’Or ranking that year: 3rd
No Xavi on the podium in 2012, but Iniesta once again finished behind Messi and Ronaldo as the Argentine magician won his fourth Ballon d’Or in a row.
The Spanish maestro was a key figure as Spain powered to win Euro 2012, their third consecutive major international trophy. Iniesta also helped Barcelona to another Spanish title and scored eight goals and made an amazing 17 assists, mainly to Messi. A reminder that this was the year Messi surpassed Gerd Muller’s record of 85 goals in a calendar year, finishing with an incredible 91.
Franck Ribery
- Year: 2013
- Club & country: Bayern Munich, France
- Position: Winger
- Goals in that year: 23
- Ballon d’Or ranking that year: 3rd
Franck Ribery found out in 2013 that not even a Treble-winning season at Bayern Munich can help you beat Ronaldo and Messi. The 2013 Ballon d’Or saw Ronaldo finally break Messi’s streak, and for once, it was not Xavi or Iniesta in second place.
After a wonderful season with Bayern, Ribery was the deadly duo’s next victim. The French winger scored 16 goals in 39 games as Bayern won the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League.
But due to an argument between Ronaldo and Fifa President Sepp Blatter, the voting deadline for the award was extended. And that extension happened to fall during the World Cup qualifiers, where Ronaldo bagged a spectacular hat-trick (to accentuate the absurd 55 goals in 55 games for Real Madrid in 2012-13) to fire his nation to the World Cup and himself to the Ballon d’Or.
Manuel Neuer
- Year: 2014
- Club & country: Bayern Munich, Germany
- Position: Goalkeeper
- Clean Sheets in that year: 32
- Ballon d’Or ranking that year: 3rd
Manuel Neuer was the next third-placed Ballon d’Or finisher behind Messi and Ronaldo in 2014.
Ronaldo successfully retained the award as Real Madrid won the Champions League and Copa del Rey. But many thought Neuer should have won due to his consistently brilliant performances in goal, particularly at the 2014 World Cup, where he was one of Germany’s best players as they won the tournament.
Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin won the award in 1963, meaning only one goalkeeper has ever won it in the last 60 years.
Neymar
- Year: 2015
- Club & country: Barcelona, Brazil
- Position: Forward
- Goals in that year: 43
- Ballon d’Or ranking that year: 3rd
Neymar would never have thought that after scoring 39 goals in all competitions and winning the Treble, he would still be an outsider for the Ballon d’Or. But unfortunately for him, Messi and Ronaldo still hadn’t slowed down.
The Brazilian tasted his first defeat to the lethal pair in the Ballon d’Or stakes after Messi managed 58 goals in 57 games (and all the same trophies as Neymar) and Ronaldo scored 61 goals in 54 games for Real Madrid. One could argue this is where the seeds of Neymar’s Blaugrana departure started.
How could he dethrone the pair (Messi won in 2015) if he was having to play with one of them?
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Antoine Griezmann
- Year: 2016
- Club & country: Atletico Madrid, France
- Position: Striker
- Goals in that year: 33
- Ballon d’Or ranking that year: 3rd
Atletico Madrid’s superstar ended 2016 without any trophies. But such was his influence over his club and country that he came within a couple of kicks of winning both the Champions League and Euro 2016.
Griezmann guided Atleti to the Champions League final but missed a penalty in the game en route to a shootout defeat to Real Madrid.
And his France side were heavy favourites against Portugal, but Griezmann played poorly as the underdogs inexplicably triumphed in France’s backyard courtesy of Eder’s extra-time winner.
In the end, given that Griezmann lost both trophies to teams containing Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese took the award ahead of Griezmann and Messi. The best statistical performer of 2016, Luis Suarez, wasn’t even nominated.
Neymar (again)
- Year: 2017
- Club & country: Barcelona, Brazil, PSG
- Position: Forward
- Goals in that year: 34
- Ballon d’Or ranking that year: 3rd
Neymar’s ever-evolving ability took on a new form in 2017. Although his goal count lowered, his overall influence on matches grew almost exponentially. For Barcelona, Neymar became an all-flank presence, defending and attacking many times in the same move.
He was the chief architect of the Blaugrana‘s implausible 6-1 comeback victory against PSG in the Champions League, scoring twice and providing the winning assist for Sergio Roberto from the 88th minute onwards.
Then, in the summer, he smashed the transfer record and shocked the world by leaving Barcelona for PSG. In the French capital, Neymar settled in on the pitch supremely well. After some early problems with Edinson Cavani as both men jockeyed for alpha status, the Brazilian helped to dominate Ligue 1 with consummate ease. But the Champions League remained elusive due to recurring post-winter break injuries.
Had Ronaldo (the eventual winner) not gone Super Saiyan in the latter stages of the 2016-17 Champions League — and had Messi not existed — Neymar would have won his first Ballon d’Or seven years ago.
Luka Modric
- Year: 2018
- Club & country: Real Madrid, Croatia
- Position: Centre Midfield
- Goals in that year: 22
- Ballon d’Or ranking that year: 1st
A shoutout to the first man who actually did win the Ballon d’Or despite the existence of both Messi and Ronaldo on the shortlist. This win was buoyed by an incessant campaign from Real Madrid and a general feeling it was time for “someone else” to win the Ballon d’Or. And Modric was the deserving winner.
He won the Golden Ball at the 2018 World Cup as Croatia reached the final and was integral to Real Madrid claiming a third successive Champions League trophy. Ronaldo finished second while Messi, despite not losing a single league match in 2017-18 (he missed Barcelona’s only loss), famously finished fifth.
Virgil van Dijk
- Year: 2019
- Club & country: Liverpool, Netherlands
- Position: Centre-back
- Clearances in that year: 246
- Ballon d’Or ranking that year: 2nd
Messi took his crown back in 2019 after yet another miraculous display in La Liga and no international tournament to function as a stick to beat him with. The Argentine was sensational, but he only just beat Virgil van Dijk to win it. For what it’s worth, the Dutchman said he thought Messi should win the award as he was the best player, which makes sense.
Had Messi not been around, Van Dijk would have become the first defender since Fabio Cannavaro to win the award. And who could argue had he done it? The Dutchman guided his country to the Uefa Nations League final, and with Liverpool, he was the defensive pillar as they won the Champions League. Liverpool also started 2019-20 setting the most furious pace in the history of the Premier League, all but guaranteeing they would win their first title for 30 years. A colossus.
Robert Lewandowski
- Year: 2021
- Club & country: Bayern Munich, Poland
- Position: Striker
- Goals in that year: 64
- Ballon d’Or ranking that year: 2nd
One of the last men to miss out of the Ballon d’Or thanks to Messi, and arguably the most controversial call of them all. Robert Lewandowski was the favourite to win the 2021 award up until the final few days. And it’s easy to see why.
In league and Champions League play alone for Bayern Munich, Lewandowski scored 49 times in 37 games at an average of one every 64 minutes. In that time, Karim Benzema was his nearest competitor among players in Europe’s top five leagues, but he was a massive 16 behind.
But Lewandowski added another 15 goals in other competitions for Bayern as well as for Poland, helping them book their spot in the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup. For many, Lewandowski should have already won the Ballon d’Or for 2020, and Messi referenced that fact in his acceptance speech, asking for the award to be given retrospectively.
“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,” Messi said.
“I think France Football should award you your 2020 Ballon d’Or — you deserve it and you should have it at home.”
Karim Benzema
- Year: 2022
- Club & country: Real Madrid, France
- Position: Striker
- Goals in that year: 50
- Ballon d’Or ranking that year: 1st
Like Modric, the man to break the duopoly, but also potentially signal the end of the dominance, there wasn’t a more worthy winner of the 2022 Ballon d’Or than Karim Benzema. The Frenchman scored 44 goals in 46 games for Real Madrid to help them win La Liga and the Champions League. He also netted six for France as they won the Uefa Nations League. Sadio Mane finished second with Kevin De Bruyne in third. This was the first year that the Ballon d’Or was awarded for the performances through a European season, rather than a calendar year.
Erling Haaland
- Year: 2023
- Club & country: Man City, Norway
- Position: Striker
- Goals in that year: 64
- Ballon d’Or ranking that year: 2nd
It turns out that Benzema’s win in 2022 was a false dawn. Lionel Messi took his eighth Ballon d’Or crown in 2023 as he guided Argentina to World Cup glory. That year, the World Cup being played in Qatar was crucial as the calendar change saw it fall in the time frame for the 2022-23 season.
This could have been the start of the new era. Many had predicted that a new duopoly could form in the Ballon d’Or between Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. They did finish second and third, respectively, in 2023. Haaland was second, finishing 105 points behind Messi despite his record-breaking season for Man City. In his debut campaign, Haaland broke the Premier League record for the most goals in a single season, scoring 36. He also added 12 in the Champions League and three in the FA Cup as Man City became just the second English men’s side to win the Treble. But a lack of action at the World Cup, with Norway failing to qualify, might have hurt him. And the fact that Messi finally completed football.
Rodri
If 2022 was a false dawn, 2024 was the year the Messi-Ronaldo dominance was truly broken.
Neither player was named in the shortlist for the award, which quickly became a two-horse race between Rodri and Vinicius Jr — with Jude Bellingham as an outside runner.
It was Rodri who eventually won by 41 points — much to the public disgust of Vini Jr and Real Madrid, with the duo bagging a La Liga and Champions League double — thanks to his role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph and City pipping Arsenal to yet another league title.
Injuries have dogged the Spaniard since scooping the Ballon d’Or, but his status as an elite midfield force (when fit) remains unquestioned.