Thierry Henry, Mohamed Salah, and Erling Haaland

20 Greatest Footballers to Have Never Won the Ballon d’Or [Ranked]

September 25, 2025 Kris Isaksen

The Ballon d’Or is football’s highest individual honor, but some of the sport’s most iconic names never claimed it. Whether due to timing, fierce competition, or sheer bad luck, these 20 players produced legendary careers without lifting the golden ball. Here’s the definitive countdown.

20. Gareth Bale – From Galáctico to National Hero

At his peak in 2012/13 with Tottenham, Gareth Bale was among the best in the world but finished only ninth. Despite leading Wales to a historic Euro 2016 semi-final and winning multiple Champions Leagues with Real Madrid, his lack of goals in key European campaigns hurt his chances.

19. Vinícius Jr. – A Star on the Rise

Photo: Lina Reshetnyk / Shutterstock.com

Vinícius Jr. shined in Real Madrid's 2023/24 Champions League-winning season, scoring 24 goals and delivering in the final. Despite a second-place finish, internal club tensions and Ballon d'Or snubs may delay his eventual breakthrough — though, at 25, time is still on his side.

18. Francesco Totti – The Eternal Roman

Totti stayed loyal to Roma for over two decades, turning down giants like Real Madrid. He came closest in 2001 after a Serie A title, but his peak coincided with others' golden years, and his quiet consistency never translated into Ballon d'Or glory.

17. Mohamed Salah – Consistently Brilliant, Consistently Overlooked

Salah’s incredible 44-goal season in 2017/18 should’ve put him in serious contention, but Liverpool’s Champions League loss kept him from the top. Even after winning the Premier League and hitting 34 goals in 2024/25, he could only manage a fourth-place finish.

16. Erling Haaland – Record-Breaker, Not Ballon d’Or Winner

Haaland's first season at Manchester City was absurd — 52 goals across all competitions and a historic treble. Yet, Messi’s World Cup win in 2022 meant Haaland had to settle for second, showing just how high the bar is set.

15. Zlatan Ibrahimović – Spectacular but Just Shy

Zlatan’s larger-than-life presence and consistent goal-scoring across Europe made him a legend, but he never won the Champions League — a key omission. With a best finish of fourth, his flair never quite converted into Ballon d’Or success.

14. Virgil van Dijk – A Defender Who Came Close

In 2019, Van Dijk nearly broke the attacker stronghold on the Ballon d’Or, finishing just behind Messi. As the rock of Liverpool’s defence during their Champions League and Premier League triumphs, his runner-up finish was the best by a defender since 2006.

13. Steven Gerrard – Istanbul Icon, Ballon d'Or Outsider

Gerrard’s heroic Champions League final in 2005 remains one of football’s greatest performances, but he only finished third that year. If he’d been at a more dominant domestic club, the Liverpool legend might’ve earned even more global recognition.

12. Robert Lewandowski – The 2020 Winner That Never Was

Lewandowski was the undisputed favorite in 2020 after a stunning season — but the ceremony was cancelled due to COVID-19. He scored 69 goals in 2021 but still lost to Messi, and despite another strong year in 2025, time is running out for the Polish striker.

11. Arjen Robben – Forever the Nearly Man

Robben’s goal won Bayern the 2013 Champions League, yet he never finished higher than fourth in Ballon d'Or voting. Even his vital role in the Netherlands’ 2010 World Cup run couldn’t lift him to the top.

10. Franck Ribéry – ‘Robbed’ in 2013

Ribéry was instrumental in Bayern Munich’s treble-winning campaign in 2013 but finished third in the Ballon d’Or. He openly called the result unfair and blamed football politics for denying him the crown.

9. Andrea Pirlo – Maestro Without the Medals

Pirlo’s grace and intelligence shaped every team he played for, from AC Milan to Juventus and the Italian national side. Yet his subtle brilliance rarely stood out on stat sheets, limiting him to a fifth-place best finish.

8. Gianluigi Buffon – Legend in Gloves

Buffon’s second-place finish in 2006 remains the closest any goalkeeper has come to winning the Ballon d’Or since Lev Yashin. Despite a World Cup win and endless domestic titles, he was ultimately denied by the sport’s attacking bias.

7. Neymar – Talent Overshadowed by Titans

Neymar’s rise promised multiple Ballon d’Ors, but Messi and Ronaldo’s dominance kept him in the shadows. Injuries and unmet World Cup expectations have left the Brazilian with a legacy of ‘what might have been.’

6. Dennis Bergkamp – The Dutch Visionary

Bergkamp’s best Ballon d’Or finishes came before his Arsenal peak, placing second in 1992. Though he lit up the Premier League, his magic never fully translated into top-three finishes after the award opened to global players.

5. Luis Suárez – Golden Boot, No Golden Ball

Suárez’s 2013/14 season for Liverpool was outrageous, and his Barcelona years saw him match Messi stride for stride. But even as one of the best strikers of his generation, he never cracked the Ballon d’Or top three.

4. Xavi – Midfield Perfection, Perpetually Third

Xavi was the architect of both Spain and Barcelona’s golden eras but peaked during Messi’s rise. He never finished higher than third, despite being the heartbeat of multiple treble-winning teams.

3. Paolo Maldini – Defensive Greatness Ignored

Maldini’s career spanned 25 years, five Champions Leagues, and unmatched defensive consistency. Yet, the best he managed was third place — a glaring omission for one of football’s most respected captains.

2. Thierry Henry – The Premier League’s Greatest Miss

Henry’s 2003 campaign was statistically superior, but he still lost out to Nedvěd — a decision many still contest. Even with a World Cup and European Championship to his name, the Arsenal icon never claimed the sport’s top individual honor.

1. Andrés Iniesta – The One Who Deserved It Most

Andres Iniesta — Photo: Asatur Yesayants / Shutterstock.com

Iniesta’s extra-time winner in the 2010 World Cup final should’ve guaranteed him the Ballon d’Or. But even then, he finished second behind Messi, adding his name to the long list of deserving stars outshone by an era-defining teammate.