The Ballon d’Or if Messi, Ronaldo weren’t there

Awards are political, and the Ballon d’Or is no different especially when modern football has divided fans along the lines of siding with either Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.

For the first time in two decades, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were absent from the Ballon d’Or shortlist, marking the end of an era in world football.

But what if the footballing titans who defined a generation never existed? Who would have claimed the coveted Ballon d’Or during their years of dominance?

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In an alternate universe, some of the game’s brightest talents would have had their time to shine. According to France Football’s “what if” list, Liverpool’s Fernando Torres would have kicked off the Messi-Ronaldo-less era in 2008, followed by a fascinating back-and-forth between Barcelona legends Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Bayern Munich stars Franck Ribery and Manuel Neuer would have broken through the duopoly, with Neymar seizing his rightful crown not once, but twice in 2015 and 2017.

In a twist of fate, Virgil van Dijk would have been the first defender since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 to be hailed as the world’s best in 2019, while Robert Lewandowski’s 2021 triumph would have finally ended the long wait for recognition of his ruthless goal-scoring ability. And Erling Haaland, despite his historic treble season, would have celebrated his Ballon d’Or win in 2023, instead of finishing runner-up to Messi.

This list paints a picture of what might have been: a footballing landscape where more players had their moment in the spotlight, untouched by the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry.

But as much as fans of Ribery, Neymar, or Van Dijk may dream of this alternate timeline, the reality is that Messi and Ronaldo’s brilliance defined an era—one that no other player could eclipse.