The Ballon d’Or is widely regarded as the ultimate individual accolade in football, awarded each year to the sport’s best player. Since its inception in 1956, many legends of the game, including Alfredo Di Stefano, Sir Bobby Charlton, Johan Cruyff, and Marco van Basten, have had the honor of receiving it. However, while the award often goes to deserving recipients, some outcomes have been controversial, sparking debate over the voting process and snubbed players.
The winner of the Ballon d’Or is decided by a jury of journalists from FIFA’s 100 top-ranked member countries. These journalists rank their top five choices from a shortlist of 30, compiled by France Football. Typically, the process yields a deserving winner, but over the years, some notable players have been overlooked despite extraordinary performances.
Lionel Messi won his record eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023, largely due to his role in Argentina’s historic World Cup win. That tournament, held in Qatar, was the first mid-season World Cup, and Messi’s performances there propelled Argentina to their third world title. However, there have been instances when Messi, while undeniably talented, was given the award despite strong performances from other players.
One such example came in 2019, when Virgil van Dijk seemed poised to break Messi and Ronaldo’s decade-long dominance. Van Dijk’s impact on Liverpool was immense, leading the club to an impressive 97-point Premier League season and a Champions League victory. Despite his accomplishments, he narrowly lost to Messi by just seven votes. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp voiced his disappointment, stating, “The decision is made by journalists, and that’s how they see it… I cannot remember a more impressive season for a defender.”
Another controversial year was 2010, when Wesley Sneijder had an incredible season with Inter Milan, winning the Champions League, Serie A, and Coppa Italia. He was also pivotal in the Netherlands’ journey to the World Cup final. Despite his achievements, Sneijder finished behind Barcelona’s Xavi and Iniesta and Messi, leading Inter president Massimo Moratti to declare, “I find it very unfair… Sneijder had a phenomenal year, won everything he could have won.”
In 2024, Erling Haaland’s exceptional season at Manchester City, marked by a historic treble and a personal tally of 52 goals, wasn’t enough to outshine Messi’s World Cup triumph. Some football legends criticized the decision, suggesting Haaland had been unfairly overlooked in favor of Messi’s international exploits.
Other controversial results include Cristiano Ronaldo missing out to Luka Modric in 2018 despite an exceptional season, and Thierry Henry being snubbed in 2003, when Pavel Nedved took the award. Similarly, Franck Ribery’s incredible season with Bayern Munich in 2013 was overshadowed by Ronaldo’s 55-goal haul, although Bayern won the treble and Real Madrid failed to secure any major titles.
These snubs highlight the nature of the Ballon d’Or voting process, leaving some to question if the award always reflects true merit. As new generations of players emerge, fans hope that future winners truly represent the best of the best, avoiding controversies that leave fans and players feeling robbed.
