The last 9 Ballon d’Or winners if Messi and Ronaldo weren’t around

Ronaldo has four awards and Messi five. Who will lift it in 2017?

Two of the best footballers ever. They have spent the last decade in a two-man battle for the coveted award, leaving nothing for other fantastic players at the time. Here are the stars who would have won the Ballon d’Or if Messi and Ronaldo hadn’t existed.

1. Fernando Torres (2008)

A fantastic season for Liverpool as well as scoring the winner in the Euro ’08 final for Spain would have awarded the striker his first Ballon d’Or.

2. Xavi Hernández (2009)

He was in the top three candidates three times in a row, but this would have been his first win.

3. Andrés Iniesta (2010)

The Spaniard came close to touching the sky thanks to his dramatic World Cup final winner and his particular way of seeing the game.

4. Xavi Hernández (2011)

It would have been his second award, but once again his Argentine teammate and Cristiano Ronaldo stood in the way.

5. Andrés Iniesta (2012)

He came third behind the two stars in 2012. It would have been his second Ballon d’Or.

6. Franck Ribéry (2013)

He was one of the favourites to win, but he finished third behind Ronaldo (who won it) and Messi.

7. Manuel Neuer (2014)

Only the two superstars could stop a goalkeeper from winning the prestigious award. He played a great World Cup for Germany.

8. Neymar JR (2015)

His fantastic displays in La Liga and the Champions League could have seen him win, but his then-teammate Messi and Ronaldo were favoured by the voters.