The Biggest Ballon d’Or Robberies in Football History – Ranked
The Ballon d'Or is supposed to honour the best footballer on the planet each year, but history tells us that's not always how it goes. From unfair snubs to controversial decisions and even cancelled ceremonies, some all-time greats have seen the most prestigious individual award slip through their fingers when they clearly deserved it. Here's a ranked list of the most glaring Ballon d'Or injustices – starting from the least egregious to the most outrageous.
9. Virgil van Dijk – 2019
Van Dijk was a towering force in Liverpool’s defence during their Champions League-winning season and came within one point of a Premier League title. He played all 50 matches and even contributed 10 goals and assists, yet lost out to Messi by just seven votes.
8. Wesley Sneijder – 2010
Sneijder was the driving force behind Inter’s historic treble and then led the Netherlands to the World Cup final. Despite being joint-top scorer in the tournament and collecting four Man of the Match awards, he finished behind Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta in the Ballon d’Or race.
7. Erling Haaland – 2023
Haaland scored 52 goals in 53 matches and led Manchester City to a historic treble, including a long-awaited Champions League title. But Messi’s World Cup triumph tipped the scales in his favour, despite Haaland’s sheer dominance throughout the entire club season.
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6. Cristiano Ronaldo – 2018
Ronaldo netted 44 goals in 44 games and was the top scorer in the Champions League as Real Madrid secured another European crown. Yet the award went to Luka Modric, whose impact was less tangible and whose stats paled in comparison.
5. Deco – 2004
Deco led Porto to an unlikely treble, delivering 25 assists and winning the Man of the Match in the Champions League final. Despite his brilliance and accolades, he lost out to Shevchenko in a race many feel was wrongly decided.
4. Franck Ribery – 2013
Ribery was Bayern Munich’s key man in a treble-winning year, offering 34 goal contributions and consistent brilliance in big matches. Yet the Ballon d’Or was awarded to Ronaldo, who had no major trophies to his name that season.
3. Vinicius Jr – 2024
Vinicius was electric for Real Madrid, scoring in the Champions League final and bagging a hat-trick in the Spanish Super Cup. But his vote was likely split with teammate Bellingham, allowing Rodri to snatch the prize amid controversy and a Madrid boycott of the ceremony.
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2. Robert Lewandowski – 2020 & 2021
Lewandowski scored 55 goals during Bayern's treble-winning season in 2020, but the Ballon d'Or was cancelled due to COVID-19. In 2021, he netted 62 more but still lost to Messi, who admitted Lewandowski deserved the 2020 award in his acceptance speech.
1. Thierry Henry – 2003
Henry registered 24 goals and 25 assists in one of the greatest individual seasons in Premier League history, also lifting the FA Cup with Arsenal. He lost out to Pavel Nedved, despite outperforming him in every attacking metric imaginable – a decision still viewed as criminally unjust.
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