The biggest Ballon d’Or robberies of all time: 9 players who deserved more
Football's most prestigious individual prize doesn't always go to the player who deserves it most. Over the decades, some of the game’s finest have delivered unforgettable seasons only to be snubbed on Ballon d'Or night. From club legends to international icons, here are the nine biggest injustices in Golden Ball history.
9. Virgil van Dijk (2019)
Van Dijk was the defensive rock behind Liverpool’s 97-point Premier League run and Champions League triumph. He started every game in Europe and the league, turning Klopp’s team into a juggernaut.
Despite that dominance, he lost out to Messi by just seven votes — the closest margin in over two decades.
8. Wesley Sneijder (2010)
Sneijder inspired Inter to a historic treble, scored in key Champions League matches, and carried the Netherlands to the World Cup final. He was the tournament’s joint-top scorer and collected four Man of the Match awards.
Astonishingly, he didn’t even make the Ballon d'Or top three — a baffling omission that still stings.
7. Erling Haaland (2023)
Haaland scored 52 goals across all competitions and led Manchester City to a treble, shattering Premier League and Champions League records. His impact in decisive games was unmatched throughout the season.
But Messi’s World Cup win tipped the scales, and Haaland's monster season was quietly brushed aside.
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6. Cristiano Ronaldo (2018)
Ronaldo netted 44 goals, including 15 in the Champions League, as Real Madrid secured their third straight European title. Modric’s World Cup heroics with Croatia stole the spotlight, but his numbers didn’t come close to Ronaldo’s.
Even though Ronaldo stayed silent, the outrage from fans — and his sister — said it all.
5. Deco (2004)
Deco was instrumental in Porto’s Champions League-winning campaign, delivering nine goals, 25 assists, and a masterclass in the final. He also won the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year and earned a move to Barcelona.
Despite all that, Shevchenko won the Ballon d’Or, leaving Deco’s stellar year underappreciated.
4. Franck Ribery (2013)
Ribery was the creative engine of Bayern’s treble-winning side, delivering 34 goal contributions and big moments when it mattered most. His team thrashed Messi’s Barcelona and won everything on offer.
Still, he finished behind Ronaldo and Messi, later calling the vote “political” and “unfair.”
3. Vinicius Jr (2024)
Vinicius dominated the 2023–24 season, starring in El Clásicos, La Liga’s title run-in, and the Champions League final. No attacker had more impact in the biggest matches.
But he lost out to Rodri, possibly due to vote-splitting with Bellingham — and Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony in protest.
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2. Robert Lewandowski (2020 & 2021)
Lewandowski hit 55 goals in Bayern’s treble season, but the 2020 Ballon d'Or was cancelled — the biggest miss in the award's history. He followed up with 62 goals in 2021, but still lost to Messi.
Even Messi admitted Lewa should’ve won, saying, “You deserve it and should have it at home.”
1. Thierry Henry (2003)
Henry recorded 24 goals and 25 assists in a single Premier League season — a feat never matched before or since. He also won the FA Cup and was the best player in Europe by most standards.
Yet he was beaten by Pavel Nedved, a great player, but nowhere near Henry’s level that year.
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