They are some of football’s brightest stars — Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, Robert Lewandowski, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Andrés Iniesta, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Frank Lampard, and Steven Gerrard. Despite their brilliance, iconic careers, and countless trophies, none of them has ever won the men’s Ballon d’Or — the sport’s most prestigious individual honour.
The Ballon d’Or, introduced in 1956 by French journalists, originally recognised only European players but later expanded worldwide. Over the years, legends like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, and Ronaldo have claimed it. Since 2008, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo largely dominated, leaving little room for others.
Notable Stars Who Missed Out
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Dennis Bergkamp – A generational talent who starred for Arsenal with three Premier League titles, including the “Invincibles” season, and memorable goals like his 1998 World Cup strike against Argentina. Despite his success, his closest Ballon d’Or finishes were 2nd (1993) and 3rd (1992).
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Thierry Henry – Arsenal’s record scorer with 228 goals and the first player in this century to record 20 goals and 20 assists in one season. Twice a top-three finalist, he never clinched the award.
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Neymar – Brazil’s all-time top scorer and one of only five players with 100+ goals for three clubs (Santos, Barcelona, PSG). Despite a world-record £200m move to PSG, the Ballon d’Or eluded him.
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Robert Lewandowski – A prolific striker with over 600 goals. Many believe he would have won in 2020 had the award not been cancelled due to COVID-19. He finished 2nd to Messi in 2021.
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Andrés Iniesta – Barcelona’s midfield maestro with 32 trophies, including 9 La Liga titles and 4 Champions Leagues. He scored Spain’s winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final but only finished 2nd (2010) and 3rd (2012).
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David Beckham – Manchester United and Real Madrid legend, central to United’s 1999 Treble. A Ballon d’Or runner-up in 1999 but never a winner.
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Ryan Giggs – The most decorated Premier League player, with 13 league titles, 4 FA Cups, and 2 Champions Leagues for Manchester United. Despite his honours, the award slipped away.
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Frank Lampard – Chelsea’s all-time top scorer (211 goals), record-breaking midfielder, and Champions League winner. Finished runner-up in the Ballon d’Or but never first.
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Steven Gerrard – Liverpool’s inspirational captain, remembered most for leading the “Miracle of Istanbul” in the 2005 Champions League final. A Premier League icon, but never crowned with the award.
The Ballon d’Or Gap
While these legends dominated their eras, the extraordinary dominance of Messi and Ronaldo, combined with voting trends, meant they never secured football’s highest individual prize. Still, their careers and legacies remain untouchable, cementing their places among the all-time greats.
ADEOLA KUNLE
