The Argentine and Portuguese player have distributed eleven of the last twelve awards that the French magazine and FIFA gave to the best player in the world.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the two players who have dominated football for more than a decade and those who have fought hand in hand to be considered the best player in the world and even in history.
The Argentine and the Portuguese have represented a soccer rivalry never before seen in the history of football, which was born in 2008 and which has lasted until today.
Their eagerness to be the top scorers in tournaments and aspiring to win the much coveted Champions League has resulted in a reciprocal inspiration to stay in the football elite for several years and that allowed them to be recognized with the Ballon d’Or, the trophy awarded by the French magazine France Football to the best individual player in the world and the most prestigious at the football level.
Messi, 34, won the Ballon d’Or six times wearing the FC Barcelona shirt. While, Ronaldo, 36, received the Ballon d’Or five times, four wearing the Real Madrid jacket and one that of Manchester United.
Eleven trophies between two players, which make them the top winners of an award that has been awarded since 1956 and has been won by historical footballers such as: Johan Cruyff, Marco Van Basten, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Michael Platini, among others.
But, who would have won trophy if the two players had not existed? France Football showed the footballers who had won the Ballon d’Or, but were overshadowed by the participation of the two stars.
Fernando Torres – 2008
The Spaniard took the first big step in his career, after leaving Atlético Madrid and joining Liverpool in the 2007-2008 season, at the age of 23. His good performances in the Spanish team, where he spent six seasons, allowed Torres to arrive as a great signing for the ‘Reds’ and The child it did not disappoint.
Fernando Torres scored 33 goals in 46 games played, being his best scoring record in a season, where he also won the European Championship with Spain. But Cristiano Ronaldo’s fabulous year ended up overshadowing his performances, thanks to 42 goals in 49 games and the consecration of the Premier League and his first Champions League, which ended up giving him his first Ballon d’Or. Torres would finish third in the classification, also behind Messi.
Xavi Hernández – 2009
Xavi Hernández would have been another of the Spanish players to win the award. His dominance in the FC Barcelona midfield delighted the spectators who saw Pep Guardiola’s team, which would end up winning the ‘Triplet’ in the 2008-2009 season and later the ‘Sextete’.
His great year, where he made 28 assists and 10 goals in 54 games, positioned him as one of the best in the world. But far above was Lionel Messi, the engine of that splendid Barça that allowed him to win his first Ballon d’Or, participating in 38 goals and 17 assists in 51 games. Xavi would also finish third, behind Ronaldo, who had another good season with United.
Andres Iniesta – 2010
Iniesta ran as a favorite to win the Ballon d’Or in 2010, after the consecration of Spain in the final of the World Cup. His goal against the Netherlands gave La Roja its first world championship.
However, his irregularity at FC Barcelona, where he gave 9 assists and one goal in 42 games, made voters decide on Lionel Messi, who won his second award after scoring 47 goals and 11 assists in 53 games, with his club. Iniesta will be second in the voting.
Xavi Hernández – 2011
Again Xavi became owner of a half of the field of an FC Barcelona that would dominate Spain and Europe. At the gates of a new ‘triplet’, losing only the Copa del Rey, the Spanish was positioned as the best in the world.
But again Messi he swept the voting and achieved his third consecutive Golden Ball, after being the star of that FC Barcelona, where he achieved 53 goals and 23 assists in 55 games. Hernández would again be third in the vote.
Andres Iniesta – 2012
Iniesta was among the best in the world in the 2011-2012 season, after his great season with Barça and with the consecration of Spain in the European Championship. But Messi would break a mark that had been in force for nearly 40 years: he scored 91 goals in a calendar year between club and national team, which allowed him to become the first player in history to get four consecutive Golden Balls. Iniesta would be third.
Franck Ribéry – 2013
The French player fHe was the star of that Bayern Munich that dominated Europe and Germany, becoming champion in the Champions League, Bundesliga and the German Cup, getting the first ‘triplet’ of the club. His overflow on the left wing made him one of the best players in the world in the 2012-2013 season, where he managed 11 goals and 23 assists in 43 games.
However, the number of titles did not decide the winner of the Ballon d’Or, but the individual records, in which Cristiano Ronaldo ended up being the best with his 55 goals and 12 assists in 55 games. played with Real Madrid. The second best was Messi, with his 60 goals and 15 assists with FC Barcelona. Ribéry would finish third.
Manuel Neuer -2014
The German goalkeeper positioned himself as a candidate for the Ballon d’Or, after winning the World Cup with Germany. His participation defending his country’s goal in the final against Messi’s Argentina, allowed him to get the fourth star for Germany.
Nevertheless, the great individual performance of Cristiano Ronaldo, scoring 51 goals and 17 assists in 47 games, and achieving the long-awaited tenth of the Champions League with Real Madrid, they allowed him to win his third Ballon d’Or. Neuer would finish third.
Neymar – 2015
Together with Suárez and Messi they formed the fearsome trident that would lead FC Barcelona to get their second ‘triplet’ in history, dominating in Spain and Europe. The Brazilian was the new jewel of world football and positioned himself as the successors of Messi and Ronaldo.
His great season, where he achieved 39 goals and 11 eleven assists in 51 games, was overshadowed by Messi, who ended up achieving his fifth Ballon d’Or, after scoring 58 goals and 27 assists in 57 games for his club.
Antoine Griezmann – 2016
Champion of the Europa League with Atlético Madrid and the star of France who reached the final of the Eurocup, Griezmann positioned himself as the best players in the world in the 2016-2017 season, with 32 goals in 54 games, and a candidate for the Ballon d’Or.
But it was ronaldo who would end up winning his fourth award, after being the flag of Portugal that won the Eurocup and getting a new Champions League with Real Madrid. The little Prince would finish third.
Neymar – 2017
The Brazilian returned to the top of the best in the world, after having a great season at FC Barcelona. Neymar achieved 20 goals and 27 assists in 45 games played, and led that historic comeback against Paris Saint-Germain, a club to which he would later leave.
Cristiano Ronaldo ended up being the winner of the Ballon d’Or, after being crowned champion of the Champions League again, registering 42 goals and 12 assists in 46 games.
Virgil Van Dijk – 2019
The Dutch defender signed the best season of his sports career with Liverpool in 2018-2019, becoming the best center-back in the world. His consecration in the Champions League, being one of the banners of the team led by Jurgen Klopp, catapulted him to be the great candidate for the Ballon d’Or.
The award he received as UEFA’s best player made it seem that months later he would receive the Ballon d’Or. But seven points in the voting deprived him of becoming the third defender in history to win the award. (Fabio Cannavaro y Franz Beckenbauer) and allowed Messi to become the first player to win it six times, after achieving 51 goals and 19 assists in 50 games.
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