FULL LIST: 10 Legendary Footballers Who Shockingly Never Won The Ballon d’Or
Since 1956, the Ballon d’Or has been football’s most prestigious individual prize, handed to the players considered the very best in the world.
Over the years, icons like George Best, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, and Lionel Messi have lifted the Ballon d’Or in their respective eras.
Yet not every legend got to savour that moment. Some of the most influential footballers to ever grace the pitch, players who defined generations and changed how the game was played, never got their hands on it.
Below are ten football greats who, despite extraordinary careers, never won the Ballon d’Or:
Arsenal’s Dutch maestro had elegance like few others. Signed for a then-record £7.5 million in 1995, Bergkamp went on to shape Arsène Wenger’s golden era. He delivered three league titles, including the unbeaten 2003-2004 campaign, and three FA Cups.
Moments like his outrageous hat-trick against Leicester in 1997 or his stunning goal for the Netherlands against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup have become part of football folklore. Still, his best Ballon d’Or finishes came before his Arsenal peak, second in 1993 and third in 1992.
Thierry Henry is often hailed as the Premier League’s greatest ever player. Arsenal’s all-time top scorer with 228 goals, he combined blistering pace with effortless finishing.
Henry was the first player this century to notch at least 20 goals and 20 assists in a single league season, a feat only Lionel Messi has since matched. Despite being twice in the top three, the Frenchman never took home the golden ball.
3. Neymar
When Neymar burst onto the European stage, many assumed it was only a matter of time before he won the Ballon d’Or. Brazil’s record scorer has over 400 career goals and is one of only five players to hit 100 goals with three different clubs: Santos, Barcelona, and PSG.
The world-record £200m move to Paris in 2017 was supposed to cement his claim. But despite Champions League glory with Barcelona and plenty of domestic dominance, Neymar never managed to outshine Messi or Ronaldo when it mattered.
If ever there was a Ballon d’Or robbed by circumstance, it was Robert Lewandowski in 2020. Fresh off a season where he scored 55 goals and led Bayern Munich to a historic treble, the award was cancelled due to the pandemic.
When it returned, he finished second behind Lionel Messi in 2021. With more than 600 goals across his career, Lewandowski’s consistency has been unmatched, yet the Golden Ball still eluded him.
Andrés Iniesta was Barcelona’s heartbeat and Spain’s midfield conductor during their golden years. He won 32 major trophies, including nine La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.
On the international stage, he delivered Spain’s greatest ever moment, scoring the winner in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands. Despite finishing second in 2010 and third in 2012, the dominance of Messi and Ronaldo meant Iniesta never won the sport’s most prized individual trophy.
David Beckham’s name transcends football, but his career was more than just fame. A central figure in Manchester United’s historic Treble-winning side of 1999, Beckham’s precision passing and iconic free-kicks made him unforgettable.
That same year he finished as runner-up for the Ballon d’Or but never went one better. His later move to Real Madrid’s Galácticos only added to his profile, yet the golden ball remained out of reach.
7. Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs epitomised loyalty and success. Spending his entire career at Manchester United, he collected 13 league titles, four FA Cups, and two Champions League trophies.
His weaving solo goal against Arsenal in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final remains one of the most memorable moments in English football. Despite his incredible longevity and medal haul, Giggs never came close to winning the Ballon d’Or.
Frank Lampard’s goal-scoring exploits set him apart from other midfielders. With 211 goals, he remains Chelsea’s all-time top scorer and still holds the record for the most Premier League goals by a midfielder.
Three league titles, four FA Cups, and a Champions League were highlights of a glittering career. He once finished as runner-up for the Ballon d’Or but could not break through to first place.
Steven Gerrard’s career is defined by leadership and moments of inspiration. The clearest example came in the 2005 Champions League final, when Liverpool overturned a 3-0 deficit against AC Milan. Gerrard’s header started the comeback that became known as the “Miracle of Istanbul.”
Though he earned respect worldwide and lifted numerous trophies, the Ballon d’Or always remained just beyond his reach.
Few players carried the aura of Zlatan Ibrahimović. With over 500 career goals, league titles in Italy, Spain, France, and the Netherlands, and a highlight filled with outrageous strikes, Zlatan looked every inch a future Ballon d’Or winner.
But timing and circumstance worked against him. Competing in an era dominated by Messi and Ronaldo meant he was often overlooked.
Despite finishing fourth in 2013, the Swede never got closer, and now retired, he’ll forever remain one of the game’s greatest without the golden crown.
