A graphic that France Football has posted shows who would have won the Ballon d’Or if Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had never been born.

Between them, Messi and Ronaldo have won an incredible 12 Ballon d’Or championships. The Argentine has won SEVEN of these accolades, in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2021.

On the other side, the Portuguese superstar has won five Ballon d’Or titles, taking home the coveted honor in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.

Since 2008, they have firmly maintained their hold on the coveted trophy; Luka Modric is the only player who has managed to challenge their hegemony.

List of athletes who, in the absence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, would have won the Ballon d’Or

List of athletes who, in the absence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, would have won the Ballon d’Or

Maintained Picture Source: Getty

A graphic that France Football has posted shows who would have won the Ballon d’Or if Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had never been born.

Between them, Messi and Ronaldo have won an incredible 12 Ballon d’Or championships. The Argentine has won SEVEN of these accolades, in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2021.

On the other side, the Portuguese superstar has won five Ballon d’Or titles, taking home the coveted honor in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.

Since 2008, they have firmly maintained their hold on the coveted trophy; Luka Modric is the only player who has managed to challenge their hegemony.

But in the absence of Messi and Ronaldo, who would have taken home the Ballon d’Or? In any case, France Football has compiled a list of the winners in the absence of the two football legends.

It would have gone to Fernandes Torres of Liverpool in 2008. For four years, Xavi of Barcelona and Andres Iniesta would have rotated, with each winning two between 2009 and 2012.

Franck Ribery and Manuel Neuer, two players for Bayern Munich, would have taken home the Ballon d’Or in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

Antoine Griezmann would have won the individual award in 2016, but Neymar would have taken home the trophy in 2015 and 2017.

If Virgil van Dijk had won the Ballon d’Or in 2019, he would have become the first defender to do it since 2006.

Last but not least, Robert Lewandowski, who is mostly believed to have been denied the 2020 Ballon d’Or because of the Covid-19 outbreak, would have taken home the award in 2021.

Check out the full list below:

2008 – Fernando Torres

2009 – Xavi

2010 – Andres Iniesta

2011 – Xavi

2012 – Andres Iniesta

2013 – Franck Ribery

2014 – Manuel Neuer

2015 – Neymar

2016 – Antoine Griezmann

2017 – Neymar

2019 – Virgil van Dijk

2021 – Robert Lewandowski

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