Great football players who never won the Ballon d'Or

At the end of October, we will know who wins the Ballon d'Or, the most coveted individual trophy in football.

Awarded by France Football magazine, the award is decided by journalists, coaches and footballers to crown the best player in Europe. Since 1956, we have seen it go to many of the best players in the history of the game. That's many, but certainly not all...

Throughout its history, the trophy has left behind many footballers who also deserved to win it for their merits on the pitch, especially in the case of goalkeepers and defenders –who have always been largely overlooked – but also midfielders and even some excellent forwards. Let's take a look back at some of the greatest names left out of Ballon d'Or history.

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Considered one of the best footballers in history – the best, for many – Maradona never won a Ballon d'Or, although there is an explanation for this and that is that, until 1995, the award was only given to European footballers or those nationalized in a European country. That same year, the Argentine received the so-called 'Honorary Ballon d'Or'.

The Brazilian striker, a great rival for best footballer of all time with Maradona, is another good example of those players from outside Europe who deserved a Ballon d'Or and never got it. Pelé did not even play in Europe, but, like the Argentine, he would receive the FIFA Honorary Ballon d'Or "for his notable contributions to football" in 2014.

Both the two Brazilians and the Argentine (in the image) are some other South American footballers who, according to a study carried out by the France Football magazine, would have won the Ballon d'Or in the most notable moments of their football careers. However, the fact that they could not receive it until 1995 left them without that individual recognition.

There are also cases of classic Europeans who at any other time would have won it but found themselves just beyond another great name, as is the case of the Hungarian Ferenc Puskás. He was a great scorer (the greatest of the 20th century) and part of that Real Madrid team that swept Europe in the 1950s, but ultimately came up second to Luis Suárez in 1960.

Another member of that historic 50s Real Madrid squad was Spaniard Paco Gento – the only footballer in history to win six European Cups, he also had the most league titles (12) and a devesated European defences from the left wing. Weirdly, those who decided the Ballon d'Or didn't think much of him, and Gento was never even in the top three for the award.

When we say defenders have had difficulty winning the Ballon d'Or, it's especially true of goalkeepers. So far, only one has won the award – Lev Yashin in 1963. The Spanish Iker Casillas had some exceptional years with Real Madrid and the Spanish team in which his name was mentioned for the award, but the most he achieved was fourth place in 2008.

Closer than Iker Casillas to winning the Ballon d'Or was the German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who was part of the 2014 Ballon d'Or podium along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

But if there is a goalkeeper who has been close to the Ballon d'Or, it is fellow German Oliver Kahn, who made it to the podium two years in a row (2001 and 2002). On both occasions he came third: the first time surpassed by Michael Owen and Raúl González, and the second, by Ronaldo Nazario and Roberto Carlos.

Due to his enormous career, we cannot forget Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, Casillas' great generational rival and who, unlike the previous ones, came in second place to win the award in 2006.

Looking back in time, goalkeepers like Englishman Gordon Banks and Italian Dino Zoff, named the second and third-best goalkeeper of the 20th century by the IFFHS, would have well-deserved recognition in the form of the Ballon d'Or. Two true stars of the sticks who were never able to receive this trophy.

And from the goal to the defense line, where one of the best center-backs of all time, Paolo Maldini, has also been overlooked for the Ballon d'Or. He came third in 1994, surpassed in the votes for the Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov and his compatriot Roberto Baggio.

The Brazilian defender (like Maldini, by the way) is included in the 'Golden Eleven' of the Ballon d'Or – a parallel award in 2020 called 'Ballon D'Or Dream Team' that designated the best eleven in the history of football. Cafú won every possible title with Milan at club level and the Brazilian team at the international – including the World Cup as captain in 2002 but still never won the France Football trophy.

And like Maldini, another historic Italian defender also considered one of the best of all time, Franco Baresi never received the Ballon d'Or. He is included in the 'Golden Eleven' of 2020 and was the runner-up for the 1989 Ballon d'Or, but was pipped by teammate Marco Van Basten.

Another defender who was a Ballon d'Or runner-up was Real Madrid's Brazilian Roberto Carlos. The powerful and fast left back was surpassed in 2002 by his compatriot Ronaldo Nazario, chosen that year as the best in Europe.

The German defender, who spent his entire career (1965-1979) at Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he was one of the figures of its golden era in the 70s, came fourth in the 1975 Ballon d'Or tally. He was surpassed by Oleg Blojín, Franz Beckenbauer, and Johan Cruyff. His golden period came at a time when there was a lot of competition in the defensive ranks.

He was a standout in one of FC Barcelona's best ever eras and scored the goal that gave the Spanish team the World Cup in 2010, but that was not considered sufficient to give Andres Iniesta a look-in for the Golden Ball. It remains one of the most controversial awards in the trophy's history, as in the end the title went to Lionel Messi.

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Xavi Hernández was also deserving in 2010. In his case, he was the brains and organizer behind the historic FC Barcelona, which won the two European Championships, and the legendary Spanish team in the World Cups. It didn't do him much good either, and he finished third, a position he also achieved in 2009 and 2011.

One of the best midfielders in England history. He marked an era with both Chelsea and the English team, but his great performances only led him to come close to winning the Ballon d'Or in 2005 – where he finished second behind the Brazilian Ronaldinho.

And like Lampard, another English midfielder who has gone down in history as one of the best in his country was Steven Gerrard. An icon of Liverpool, the team where he spent practically his entire career and with which he won the Champions League, Gerrard came third in the race for the Ballon d'Or in 2005.

Talking about Pirlo is talking about pure class. A player who stood out in all his teams for his great vision of the game, his control, his quality in passing and his ability to take free kicks that made him one of the best Italian players ever. He was included in the 'Golden Eleven', but was never eligible for the Ballon d'Or.

A Legend of Welsh football and Manchester United (the only club of his career), Giggs was one of the key players of the Red Devils golden era, winning all possible titles and becoming a benchmark in European football as one of the best midfielders. He never even got a sniff at the Ballon d'Or.

Another historic English midfielder who showed his best qualities during his time at Manchester United. Beckham was one of the best of the 90s, and in 1999, he was on the verge of winning the Ballon d'Or but was surpassed by the Brazilian Rivaldo, eventually finishing second.

The midfielder was the favourite for Ballon d'Or betting in 2010, the year he won the treble with Inter Milan in addition to reaching the World Cup final, but the Iniesta and Xavi and the final winner, Messi, kept Wesley Sneijder off the podium in his finest year.

The legendary Real Madrid striker had just won the Champions League and La Liga with 'Los Blancos' and was in career-best form, so everyone thought 2001 would see him claim the Ballon d'Or. Unfortunately for Raul Gonzalez, he ended up in second place, surpassed by Englishman Michael Owen.

Another of those who were much talked about to win the 2013 Ballon d'Or was Franck Ribéry. He had won the Champions League and the Bundesliga with Bayern, he had had a spectacular season as one of the best footballers of the time, but that year he succumbed to the eternal Cristiano-Messi fight, finishing third.

The forward had his best years as a player for Arsenal, where he became one of the best strikers in the world. He almost won the Ballon d'Or in 2003, but was overtaken by Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedvěd, finishing second. To this would be added a third place in 2006 behind defender Fabio Cannavaro and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, after their success in the World Cup.

Without a doubt, one of the best Dutch forwards of all time. Dennis Bergkamp showed enormous class at Inter Milan and truly exploded at Arsenal as one of the best in their history. And, despite this, he couldn't get past Roberto Baggio and came second in the voting for the 1993 Ballon d'Or.

In that year 1993 in which Baggio came first and Bergkamp second, the third qualifier for the Ballon d'Or was the Frenchman Éric Cantona – a true legend of Manchester United and one of the stars of football in the 90s, who, like others, was left without the greatest title in European football.

A true spectacle in front of goal. The German striker is an iconic member of the German national team and Bayern Munich, who, at the time – especially in the 90s – were one of the most coveted sides in all football. He almost won the Ballon d'Or in 1995, but was surpassed by a superb George Weah.

One of the Netherlands star players in the 00s, helping to take them to World Cup finals in 2010 and the semifinals in 2004, Arjen Robben was also one of the leaders of Bayern Munich early 2000s, guiding them back to winning form in 2002 after some torrid years. It never caught the attention of the Ballon d'Or panel, though.

One of the best forwards in the history of Italy, Juventus and European football in general, Alessandro Del Piero is one of the greatest absentees from the Ballon d'Or and has never appeared on the podium despite an otherwise legendary career.

Winner of the Champions League, the Bundesliga, the German Cup, and the Golden Boot... The Pole, one of the best forwards in recent years in Europe, looked a shoe in for the 2021 Ballon d'Or, but ultimately had to stand aside for Lionel Messi.

On two occasions – 2015 and 2017 –  Neymar has been on the Ballon d'Or trophy podium, first as a player for FC Barcelona and then for PSG. However, on both occasions he had to settle for third place behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. A potential 'Ballon d'Or' that never was.

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Another of the great forwards that Italian and European football has produced, Francesco Totti is a true leader and legend of Roma but despite individual trophies such as the Golden Boot (2007), never won the Ballon d'Or.