Benzema, Ramos, Beckham: 18 players who deserved a Ballon d’Or

In an era of football that has seen the very elite level dominated by the freakish, superhuman capabilities of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, over an equally as freakish period of time, being the best has been damn near impossible for many.

While it’s been a delight to live through and enjoy the pure genius of Messi and Ronaldo trading blows every season for football’s top prize, finding new levels in the process, it has resulted in the goalposts of what makes a top footballer being skewed massively.

Only one person can win the Ballon d’Or every year, and when those two have spent the best part of a decade smashing records and sweeping up silverware like it’s nobody’s business, it’s made it difficult for anyone else to get recognition for world class achievements. The bar has been set astonishingly high.

The Ballon d’Or, no matter its criticisms, will always be considered the benchmark with individual football awards. Winners are correctly lauded and etched into football’s hall of fame, but there are plenty who miss out by a whisker, and rather unfortunately so.

It’s fair to say that you’ve got to have the gods on your side to be in with a chance of winning it. And as a result, there is a disgracefully talented list of players who have undeservedly missed out on football’s top prize over the years. GIVEMESPORT recalls the 18 best players to have not won the Ballon d’Or.

Somehow, Sneijder never even managed to earn a top three finish in the rankings throughout his career, which is criminal. After falling out of favour at Real Madrid, the Dutchman found a regular stride of world class form with Inter, proving instrumental as the creative lynchpin in their 2009/10 treble-winning side.

Such a sour end to his career in