Usman Dembele can be left without a prize.
Football Players PSG They are contenders for this year’s Ballon d’Or after the Parisians made a treble during the 2024/25 season. But the team’s enchanting play doesn’t necessarily lead to individual awards.
It’s strange that in the last five of the seven current European treble-winning teams, the Golden Ball hasn’t been awarded, as has been the case in the lineups of the last three of the last four World Cup winners. If you believe the bookmakers, Usman Dembele is leading the race, but he has serious competition in the form of Mohamed Salah, Kiliana Mbappe, and Lamin Yamal.
Let’s recall nine legendary teams in which no player has received the Ballon d’Or award. Barcelona – 1991/92
Not a single Barcelona player won this award in 1992, when the club won the tournament for the first time in its history, and last year, when it was officially called the European Champions Cup. Ronald Koeman scored his famous winning goal in extra time in the final against Sampdoria, but in the end, he was only eighth in the Ballon d’Or standings. Christ Stoichkov finished second, winning the award a few years later, but largely thanks to his performance at the World Cup. He won the 92nd Marco Van Basten, despite missing a penalty in the Euro 92 semi-final, when the Netherlands lost to Denmark. Manchester United – 1998/99
Many fans believe David Beckham won the Golden Ball in 1999. But the cult footballer, who was recently knighted, took second place to Rivallo, who helped Barcelona win the Spanish league under Louis Van Gala.
Inter – 2009/10
Diego Milito was Inter’s top scorer in their historic campaign to win the Treble, netting 30 goals in all competitions. He scored both goals in the Champions League final and also assisted in the final leg of Serie A, playing a key role in the Scudetto. These days, those numbers would undoubtedly put any player in the top 10 for the Ballon d’Or, but the Argentine didn’t even make the shortlist.
“I officially stopped believing in these individual awards in 2010. The day I found out Milito hadn’t even made it into the top 30, I said I didn’t understand anything else about these awards,” said his teammate Esteban Kambyasso. Wesley Sneuder (4th as a result) was the only Inter player in the top 10 for the Golden Ball that year. Spain’s Team – 2010
Jose Mourinho’s “Inter” wasn’t the only iconic team of 2010. Spain won the World Cup in South Africa, and its exceptional midfielders were awarded spots in the Golden Ball Show, but didn’t win it. Andres Iniesta and Havi Ernandes took second and third place, respectively. Messi won La Liga that year and was defeated by the Germans in the quarterfinals.
Чемпионат мира
World Cup
. But this was a time when the Argentine began to achieve greatness. 60 goals and 17 assists in 64 games for club and country were an advantage over other contenders. It’s incredible that in a season when Inter and Spain were making history, the Golden Ball was taken by a player from another team. But then Leo created his own personal story. The fact that none of Bavaria’s compositions received the Golden Ball still doesn’t bother the Munich team.“So you have to win the Champions League to win the Golden Ball?” – Frank Ribury’s recent viral post, complete with three sarcastic laughing emojis, is said due to the fact that he didn’t win the trophy in 2013. Ronaldo recently stated that winning the Champions League was necessary.
Ribery was truly magnificent this season and was the main contender for the Bavarian prize, but Aryan Robben, Philip Lama, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Manuel Neuer are also notable. Only Ribery (3) and Robben (8) made it into the top 10. The Frenchman was very close, as he received 23.39% of the vote. Ronaldo received 27.99%, and Messi received 24.72%. Ronaldo overtook Riberi thanks to Real Madrid’s La Liga victory, reaching 100 points, scoring 69 goals and providing 15 assists in 59 games for club and country that calendar year. Messi, who finished second, scored 45 goals and provided 16 assists in just 47 games. Fantastic numbers, indeed.
Germany – 2014
Like Bayern a year earlier, the German champions were an exceptional team, and it would be unfair to single out one. Neuer ultimately became third after Ronaldo and Messi. Müller (fifth), Lamas (sixth), Tony Kroos (ninth), Mario Getz (15th), and Schweinsteiger (18th) also made the shortlist, while Mesut didn’t even make the main list. Ronaldo might have missed out on his third Golden Ball that year if the Germans had a superstar, but Portugal’s tally was 51 goals in all competitions, and DeSim, with Real Madrid, not only scored Neymar, but also Messi.
France – 2018
Zinenin Zidan earned the Ballon d’Or in 1998, when France won the World Cup in his native country. Who can forget how he scored two goals in the final against Brazil? Didier Desham wasn’t such a standout figure for the French national team in 2018. Antoine Griezmann (third place) was the most highly regarded Frenchman in the Golden Ball rankings that year. We also note the likes of Pogba, Kiliana Mbappe, Nvo Kanta, and Raphael Varan, who had a great season. It’s hard to find fault with Luke Modrich, who violated Messi and Ronaldo’s duo. Real Madrid won the Champions League for the third time in a row, and Luke led the Croatian national team to the final.
Chemical world
World Cup
. Bayern Munich – 2019/20 “Robert, you deserve your ‘Golden Ball.’ Last year, everyone was unanimous in the fact that you deserved this award,” Messi said in his speech after the following year, when he surpassed Lewandowski. Honestly, a shameful decision. They could then present two “golden goals” – one for Messi, and the second last year – Lewandowski…Manchester City – 2022/23
Striker Erling Holand had a strong individual season in the 2022/23 campaign, but he failed to receive the Ballon d’Or. The Norwegian forward scored 52 goals in all competitions in his first season with Manchester City, including 36 in the English Premier League. Unfortunately for the Norwegian, it was this year that Messi shone at the World Cup in Qatar and won his eighth Ballon d’Or, forever entering the history books for such trophies. The Argentine followed in the footsteps of players such as Fabio Cannavaro (2006), Ronaldo (2002), Paolo Rossi (1982), and Bobby Charlton (1966), receiving the Ballon d’Or after the big match at the World Cup. Who do you think Usman Dembele will receive the Golden Ball this year? It’s unlikely the Parisians will deprive their compatriot.
Frank Ribury
Frank Ribury
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