The Ballon D'or that should have been.....

The Ballon d'Or That Should’ve Been

The awards they deserved but never got 💔⚽

The Ballon d'Or isn’t broken...
It’s just biased.
Some players were never number 2.
But they never got the golden ball.
Maybe they did. In spirit.
Here’s to the legends who should’ve had their name etched in gold — but didn’t.


---

⚽ A History of Controversy

Since its inception in 1956, the Ballon d’Or has crowned football’s so-called best each year.
But the criteria? Often vague. Often biased.
In fact, a 2022 study by SFU Beedie professors Ian McCarthy and Michael Johnson revealed that cultural similarity and in-group bias heavily influenced FIFA award voting between 2010–2016.

From legends who were robbed to positions that never got the spotlight, here’s the truth about the Ballon d'Or — and all the players who deserved better.

---

🧠 Midfield Maestros: Always the Artist, Never the Winner


Xavi, Iniesta, Toni Kroos, and Kevin De Bruyne — all magicians in midfield. But none of them ever held the golden ball.

Andrés Iniesta had 9 goal contributions in Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning run and scored the winning goal in the final. Yet, Messi took the award.

Xavi, with 19 trophies from 2008 to 2012 and multiple podium finishes, was never #1.

Kevin De Bruyne, the heartbeat of Manchester City’s treble-winning 2022–23 season, had 28 assists and 10 goals — but was overlooked.

Tony Kroos, Midfield brain.
He dictate tempo, kill counters, control chaos.
But hey, “he don’t score enough.” 🙄

---

🔐 The Forgotten Wall: Defenders and Goalkeepers

The Ballon d’Or loves attackers. But football is a team sport — and defenders and goalkeepers are just as vital.

Virgil van Dijk finished 2nd in 2019 after winning the Champions League and leading Liverpool to 97 points in the Premier League. He won UEFA Men's Player of the Year, but lost the Ballon d'Or to Messi.

Sergio Ramos, despite 4 Champions League titles and over 100 career goals as a defender, was never even a serious Ballon d’Or contender.

Manuel Neuer came 3rd in 2014 after winning the World Cup and Golden Glove. His role in revolutionizing the “sweeper keeper” went unrewarded.

Thibaut Courtois, the 2022 UCL Final MVP with 9 saves against Liverpool, didn’t even make the podium.


If that doesn’t scream bias, what does?


---

🎩 The Creators and Carriers


Players like Neymar, Eden Hazard, and Antoine Griezmann have delivered moments of brilliance — both for club and country — yet remained in the shadows of Messi and Ronaldo.

Neymar, who scored or assisted in nearly every UCL knockout tie from 2015 to 2020, was a consistent game-changer. In 2015, he had 39 goals and 10 assists — but still finished behind Messi and Ronaldo.

Griezmann had a dream run in 2016 and 2018, reaching the Euro final and winning the World Cup while being named Man of the Match in the final — yet no Ballon d'Or.

Hazard, during his 2018 peak, had 31 goal contributions across all competitions and led Belgium to a World Cup bronze, with the most successful dribbles in the tournament (40). Still, he didn’t crack the top 3.

---

🖇️ Fullbacks: Just Extras in the Highlight Reel?


Let’s talk about Dani Alves, Marcelo, Carvajal and other fullbacks who gave us art in motion.
Modern fullbacks like these were hybrid attackers, registering double-digit assists while defending world-class wingers.

Marcelo and Carvajal won 5 and 6 Champions Leagues and have so important goals and assists in their Real Madrid career.

Dani Alves — the most decorated footballer in history (46 trophies) — never made a Ballon d'Or top 10.

Fullbacks = football’s most disrespected artists.
They defended, created, & dazzled.
No Ballon d'Or. Not even close.
Only if they had played striker.
Even the best fullbacks? Not flashy enough, apparently.


---

🚫 The Biggest What-If: Lewandowski 2020

No discussion is complete without Robert Lewandowski.

In the 2019–20 season:

55 goals in 47 games

Champions League, Bundesliga, DFB Pokal, German Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup = Sextuple

Best Player in Europe

FIFA Men’s Best Player


But France Football cancelled the 2020 Ballon d'Or due to COVID — making it the biggest “what-if” in award history.


---

🎯 Snubbed by Narratives, Not Numbers


Even in the modern era, players like Vinicius Jr. and Erling Haaland suffer the same fate.

Haaland scored 52 goals in the 2022–23 season and won the treble with City. He was second to Messi — whose 2022 World Cup heroics, though amazing, came months before the award window.

Vinicius, instrumental in Real Madrid’s UCL wins, had 30+ goal contributions in back-to-back seasons and clutch knockout performances — yet still, no golden ball.

Kylian Mbappé exploded onto the world stage at just 19, winning the 2018 World Cup with 4 goals and earning the Best Young Player award.
In 2022, he scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final — the first player to do so since Geoff Hurst in 1966 — and won the Golden Boot with 8 goals in the tournament.
Despite this, Messi took the Ballon d'Or again, leaving Mbappé fans frustrated.
Across 2021–23, Mbappé had over 90 goals for PSG and France, several domestic titles, and consistent top-level performances. Still, no Ballon d'Or.


Why? Maybe the panel loves stories more than stats.

---

Research Says: It’s Biased

A 2022 study by SFU Beedie professors Ian McCarthy and Michael Johnson found something important. From 2010–2016, cultural similarity and "in-group bias" strongly influenced voting for FIFA's Best Men's Player award. Players from certain regions or clubs got more love than others.

If bias exists there, it's likely present in Ballon d'Or voting too.

---

🧠 Time to Rethink the Ballon d'Or?

The Ballon d'Or’s forward obsession undermines football's core — teamwork, balance, and all phases of play.


Isn’t it time for France Football to consider category-based awards?

🎩 Best Midfielder

🛡️ Best Defender

🧤 Best Goalkeeper

⚡ Best Forward


Just like the FIFA Best Awards, or UEFA Positional Awards, which have more balance and clarity.

The Ballon d’Or has prestige. It has legacy. But it also has a credibility crisis.


---

💬 Final Whistle

The Ballon d'Or isn't just an award.
It's a dream.
But for many legends, it remained just that — a dream.


And no, this isn’t just about who should’ve won.
It’s a reminder of those who deserved to be in the conversation.
I know I missed many. Maybe your favorite too.

Let’s not forget their greatness just because they didn’t hold a trophy.

Because football?
Football is more than goals.
It’s impact. Legacy. Art.



Follow me on twitter (X) for more, of the same relevant content on Tech, Cinema, Football, Cricket n' a lot more - 
https://x.com/patelritiq?t=eVSL1qRxUalMJ-HXuFw_5w&s=09

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Khauf : Best Indian Horror Content in Past Some Time?

Image
Khauf (2025) Prime Video It feels annoying when people complain about nothing good, nothing fresh, comes out of India but when content like this goes under the radar, who you've got to blame? If you've watched it, absolutely great. If not go watch now. It's a great show, a pure horror show from India, psychological and even supernatural, something that was missing for a long time. It perfectly mixes psychological & supernatural horror, but it also throws in some really sharp social commentary. It has flaws rarely and easily ⭐⭐⭐⭐ It goes deep into tough stuff like patriarchy, sexual violence, and societal oppression. Super intense, but so important. It makes you think a lot about yourself about society. It's about facing uncomfortable truths.  The acting in Khauf is just perfect. Every actor brings such raw intensity and emotional depth, making their characters' struggles feel incredibly real. You feel connected. ...
Read more

Best Mobile Phones Under 20,000 INR: Your Ultimate Guide for July 2025

Image
Best Mobile Phones Under 20,000 INR :  Your Ultimate Guide for July 2025 Hey there, tech enthusiasts! Welcome back to my Blogger channel, where I'll break down the best smartphones to make your life easier. If you’re hunting for a killer smartphone under 20,000 INR, you’re in for a treat! The Indian market in 2025 is bursting with awesome phones, but choosing the right one can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. Don’t worry, I’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Today, I’m sharing my top 5 picks (all with 256GB storage) in the 16,000–20,000 INR range, plus some honorable mentions for those willing to stretch their budget slightly. I’ve also got a strong opinion on why 128GB storage is a no-go in 2025. Let’s dive into the details and find your perfect phone! Why I’m Saying No to 128GB Storage in 2025 Before we get to the juicy stuff, let’s talk storage. I’m only recommending phones with at least 256GB 2 128GB just doesn’t cut it anymore. In 2025, our phones are our ...
Read more

अंधविश्वासी लोग भगवान के नाम पर खेल रहे खून की होली !!

Image
 मध्य प्रदेश में पांढुर्ना नाम का एक स्थान है। हर साल पोला उत्सव के अगले दिन वहां मेले का आयोजन किया जाता है। यह मेला गोटमार मेले के नाम से काफी प्रसिद्ध है। पांढुर्ना के बगल में सावरगाँव नाम का एक गाँव स्थित है। दोनों गांवों के बीच एक नदी स्थित है। चंडी देवी का एक मंदिर सावरगाँव में नदी के पास स्थित है। हर साल जब गोटमार मेला आयोजित किया जाता है तो एक रिवाज़ का आयोजन किया जाता है।नदी के बीच में एक झंडा लगाया जाता है और दोनों गांवों के ग्रामीण नदी के दोनों किनारों पर एक दूसरे के सामने खड़े हो जाते हैं। फिर वे एक-दूसरे पर पत्थर फेंकना शुरू कर देते हैं क्योंकि देवी के सम्मान में खून बहाने की परंपरा है। और जो पहले झंडा फहराता है उसे सम्मान मिलता है। हम अभी 20वीं सदी में हैं लेकिन अब भी कुछ जगहों पर ऐसे लोग परंपरा के नाम पर ऐसे काम करते हैं।  इसलिए हमें लोगों को शिक्षित करने की आवश्यकता है, ताकि इन हानिकारक वस्तुओं को हमारे समाज से दूर रखा जा सके क्योंकि इनका बच्चों और युवाओं पर बुरा प्रभाव पड़ सकता है।
Read more