Between 2008 and 2023, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated the Ballon d'Or, winning 13 out of 15 awards. Messi claimed eight of those, with his final win coming as the World Cup champion. However, many other talented players have been overlooked during this era of Messi and Ronaldo's reign. Here, we highlight six players who were unjustly denied the award. **Erling Haaland, 2023** Messi was the favorite to win the award, especially after his World Cup performance, marking his third win over three decades. Yet, Erling Haaland made a compelling argument for why he deserved it. The Norwegian forward shattered numerous records in the 2022/23 season, including the Premier League single-season goal record with 36 goals in just 35 matches during his debut. He ended the season with 71 goal contributions and helped Manchester City secure a treble. In contrast, Messi's stats at PSG—21 goals and 20 assists—were solid but overshadowed by his World Cup success, despite disappointment in the Champions League. **Paolo Maldini, 1994** Regarded as one of the best defenders in history, the Italian spent his entire career at AC Milan, winning seven Serie A and five Champions League titles. However, he never won the Ballon d'Or. He was particularly deserving in 1994 when he finished third, as Brazil defeated Italy in the World Cup finals, and Roberto Baggio might have taken the award instead. **Raúl, 2001** Raúl, Real Madrid's all-time leading scorer until Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed him, won six La Liga and three UEFA Champions League titles. In 2001, he was exceptional, leading Real Madrid to La Liga success while also winning the UCL and La Liga Golden Boot. Francesco Totti famously remarked that it was a disgrace Raúl didn't win the Ballon d'Or that year. **Robert Lewandowski, 2020** Could we rectify this oversight? Robert Lewandowski was considered the Ballon d'Or winner for 2020 until the ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19. He scored 55 goals in 47 matches that season, helping Bayern Munich achieve victory in the Champions League, Bundesliga, and DFB-Pokal. The following season, he continued to excel, yet Messi won the award, credited for his role in Argentina's Copa America win. **Thierry Henry, 2003** Thierry Henry came closest to winning the Ballon d'Or in the 2002-03 season. The Arsenal legend scored 32 goals and provided 28 assists, while Pavel Nedved, who had lesser stats, won the award due to his standout performances for Juventus, even though they lost in the UCL final. **Iniesta and Xavi, 2010** Iniesta and Xavi were among the top three in the 2010 Ballon d'Or voting, but they lost to their Barcelona teammate, Lionel Messi, who had an impressive tally of 60 goals and assists that season. Notably, both Iniesta and Xavi were also part of the Spanish team that won the 2010 World Cup, a factor that arguably contributed to Messi's win in 2023. **Gianluigi Buffon, 2006** Winning the Ballon d'Or as a goalkeeper is a rare feat, with Lev Yashin as the only player to have achieved it. However, Gianluigi Buffon was a strong contender after leading Italy to victory in the 2006 World Cup while keeping five clean sheets. Ultimately, his teammate Fabio Cannavaro won the award, with Buffon finishing in second place.
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