OPINION: 7 Times the Ballon D'Or Award was Given to the 'Wrong' Person

 I don't think there is any existing award that is free from comtroversies- be it the Nobel Prize, the Grammys or the FIFA Ballon d'Or. Since human beings are in charge, there are bound to be sentiments because over time, there have been cases where 'more deserving' people have been denied awards.

Focusing on the Ballon d'Or, football fans have expressed disappointment time and time again when a certain player gets snubbed in favour of another, who they believe is less deserving of the award. Some of the memorable ones that have stirred controversies include that of 2010, 2013 and 2018.

This year's Ballon D'or award-giving ceremony was annuled, and many football fans believe this was great injustice to Bayern's Robert Leeandowski, who they believed deserved to win it. But that aside, let us look at seven times in which the ceremony was actually held, but the award given to the 'wrong' person.

1. 2010 Winner: Lionel Messi

Deserving Winner: Wesley Sneijder







Sneijder helped Inter to the treble in 2010 and also inspired Netherlands to the final of the World Cup, where he better five goals. How Messi, who didn't score a single goal at the world cup, and whose club was eliminated by Inter in the UCL, won the award ahead of him, remains a miracle.

2. 2013 Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo

Deserving Winner: Franck Ribery

Ribery was outstanding for Bayern Munich that year. Even if he didn't win the award, his teammate Robben might have been a good choice, but certainly not Ronaldo. Well, the deed has already been done.

3. 2000 Winner: Luis Figo

Deserving Winner: Zinedine Zidane







It was quite shocking to see Figo awarded the Balloon d'Or that year. Zidane was amazing, and even inspired France to the Euro 2000 trophy.

4. 2004 Winner: Andriy Shevchenko

Deserving Winner: Thierry Henry










Henry was exceptional for Arsenal, helping them to win the league unbeaten. Henry aside, FC Porto's Deco was perhaps a better candidate having inspired his team to UCL glory. However, both were snubbed in favour of AC Milan's Andriy Shevchenko.

5. 2003 Winner: Pavel Nedved

Deserving Winner: Thierry Henry










Henry had an amazing record of 26 assists and 42 goals. His closest rival should have been Paolo Maldini who was outstandingly, helping AC Milan win the Serie A as well as the UCL. But then football awards hardly favour defenders. Surprisingly, Juventus' star Pavel Nedved was given the award.

6. 2019 Winner: Lionel Messi

Deserving Winner: Sadio Mane







Surely, a Liverpool player deserved the award that year. While many were of the opinion that Virgil Van Dijk was more deserving, I believe Sadio Mane was the right person to be given the award. He was simply exceptional for Liverpool. But then Lionel Messi won the award again, his sixth Ballon d'Or award.

7. 2001 Winner: Michael Owen

Deserving Winner: Raul Gonzalez







Raul finished UCL too goalscorer that season, and he was instrumental to Madrid's La Liga glory. But quite surprisingly, Liverpool's Michael Owen beat him to the award. Owen too had a great season, I must say- so it must have been a really tight call.

Well, these may not be the only times the award was given to the 'wrong' person. Many great players like Xavi, Iniesta, Ramos, Puyol, Marcelo and Eto'o may have deserved the award at one point or the other, but then it just didn't happen.