Franck Ribery retires: Why didn't he win the 2013 Ballon d'Or?

Franck Ribery is set to call time on his glittering career at the age of 39, according to a report from L’Equipe.

The former French international, capped 81 times for Les Bleus, is currently under contract to Italian side Salernitana, but hasn’t turned out for the Serie A outfit since August because of knee problems.

Ribery is believed to have agreed to remain at Salernitana in an ambassador role until the end of the season. His playing days, though, are seemingly behind him.

The former Marseille, Bayern Munich and Fiorentina winger can look back on an exceptional 22-year run as a professional, during which he won nine Bundesliga titles and the Champions League – among a host of other accolades.

One honour that Ribery doesn’t have to his name, however, is a Ballon d’Or.

After a career-best year in 2013 when he helped Bayern to a historic treble (Bundesliga, Champions League and DFB-Pokal), Ribery won the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.

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In his mind, the player believed he had done enough to get his hands on that year’s coveted Ballon d’Or prize. Many observers also championed his claims, with Ribery favourite to win with bookmakers before the presentation ceremony took place.

France Football, though, handed the award to Cristiano Ronaldo for a second time. To add insult to injury, Ribery didn’t even finish as runner-up. That distinction belonged to Lionel Messi.

It’s a snub that Ribery has never truly gotten over.

He’s certainly had reason to feel aggrieved, too. Although Ronaldo made an impressive start to the 2013/14 season, the Portuguese star never actually lifted any silverware in 2013.

That fact is