FourFourTwo compiled a ranking of unfair Ballon d’Or awards, calling it a top ten of “robberies” in the history of the Ballon d’Or.
Andriy Shevchenko with the 2004 Ballon d’OrAlso listed is the 2004 Ballon d’Or, awarded to Ukrainian forward Andriy Shevchenko of the Italian club Milan. According to the publication, that year the award should have gone to French forward Thierry Henry.
TOP-10 “robberies” in the history of the Ballon d’Or
1. The Ballon d’Or was “stolen” from Robert Lewandowski—he should have received it in 2021 when the award went to Lionel Messi, or in 2020 when it was not awarded due to the so-called coronavirus pandemic.
2. Thierry Henry: should have received it in 2003 instead of Pavel Nedved or in 2004 instead of Andriy Shevchenko.
3. Wesley Sneijder: should have received it in 2010 instead of Lionel Messi.
4. Erling Haaland: should have received it in 2023 instead of Lionel Messi.
5. Franck Ribéry: should have received it in 2013 instead of Cristiano Ronaldo.
6. Virgil van Dijk: should have received it in 2019 instead of Lionel Messi.
7. Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah, or Antoine Griezmann: one of them should have received it in 2018 instead of Luka Modrić.
8. Oliver Kahn or Raúl: one of them should have received it in 2001 instead of Michael Owen.
9. Ferenc Puskás: should have received it in 1960 instead of Luis Suárez.
10. Gianluigi Buffon: should have received it in 2006 instead of Fabio Cannavaro.
