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Top 10 players who missed out on the Balon d'Or because of Messi and Ronaldo

By Mutala Yakubu
Ronaldo (left) and Messi (right)
Ronaldo (left) and Messi (right)
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Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the Ballon d'Or for the past ten years which has resulted with some top players missing out on the award.

These players were in top shape and form and would have easily won the award if not for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's dominance.

Messi and Ronaldo have both dominated the awards since 2008, with Brazilian Kaka being the last to claim the prestigious individual prize before the current reign of the two superstars.

Check out which ten stars would have won the Balon d'Or  had Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo not been around.



1. Fernando Torres

Back in 2008, Ronaldo lifted his first Golden Ball, while Messi finished in second place and Fernando Torres, who had just scored for Spain to win their first ever UEFA European Championship title, missed out.



2. Xavi Hernandez

The next three years saw Messi lift the award, with his former teammate Xavi Hernandez being the unlucky player who finished behind the Argentine in 2009 and 2011 in third place behind Messi and Ronaldo, and in second spot to the Argentine in 2010.



3. Andres Iniesta

 

In 2012, another FC Barcelona star must count himself unlucky, with Andres Iniesta finishing in third spot behind Messi and Ronaldo, despite lifting the UEFA European Championship title with Spain.



4. Franck Ribery

In 2013, it was Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery who finished in third spot behind the two superstars despite being instrumental in his sides' treble-winning campaign.

 

5. Manuel Neuer

In 2014, Manuel Neuer led Germany to the FIFA World Cup title in Brazil and won the domestic double, but his heroics weren't enough to see him become only the second goalkeeper to be named World Footballer of the Year.

Instead, he saw Ronaldo lift the award, while Messi followed in second place on the podium.



6. Neymar

It was Neymar's first appearance among the final three in 2015, but his then teammate Messi lifted his fifth Golden Ball, once again with Ronaldo in second place.



7. Antoine Griezmann

Antoine Griezmann was the unlucky third despite being named as the 2016 UEFA European Championship Player of the Tournament.

The Frenchman was another star to finish behind Ronaldo, who claimed his fourth award, and Messi in third spot.



8. Gianluigi Buffon

Buffon won the FIFA best goalkeeper in 2017. He guided Juventus to the Serie A title and the finals of UEFA Champions League only to lose to Real Madrid.

Buffon finished 3rd in the 2017 awards as Cristiano Ronaldo won his 5th and Messi finished second.



9. Wesley Sneijder

Many argue that Wesley Sneijder should have won the 2010 award after a fantastic season with Inter Milan.

He helped Inter Milan to win a treble in 2010 and was also instrumental for the Netherlands as they reached the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

He was named UEFA midfielder of the season and one of the three best midfielders in the world for 2010 by FIFA.



10. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

The Lion, Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed out on the top prize in 2013.

A great season with PSG saw him win the goal king in the Ligue one.

His spectacular bicycle kick for Sweden against England won the 2013 FIFA Puskás Award for Goal of the Year.

In December 2013, Ibrahimovic was ranked by The Guardian as the third-best player in the world, behind only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.