20 football stars who have never won the Ballon d'Or

Didier Drogba

The striker, who presented the 2023 gala, became a Chelsea legend between 2004 and 2015. He was one of the world's best strikers of his generation for his power and effectiveness. He was nominated for the Ballon d'Or eight times in that period.

Raul Gonzalez

The No.7 was always expected to win the Ballon d'Or in 2001 but Michael Owen won it. Gonzalez scored 46 goals between Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, as well as winning the La Liga title and the European Super Cup. His team were knocked out in the Champions League semi-finals and for this reason, he did not win the top individual trophy.

Gianluigi Buffon

Buffon won the Lev Yashin Award five times, which recognises the best goalkeeper in the world, and also came 2nd in the 2006 Ballon d'Or, won by teammate Fabio Cannavaro.

Samuel Eto'o

The former Barcelona forward repeatedly protested against 'France Football' and went so far as to say that ''African players are not appreciated in their fair share'' for the Ballon d'Or. In his case, he never made it into the top three, although he did receive the bronze medal at the 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year.

Andres Iniesta

He played for Barcelona and the Spanish national team, making his mark for both club and country. He scored a goal in the World Cup and won the Silver Ball in 2010 and Bronze Ball in 2012.

Iker Casillas

He came very close to becoming the first goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Or after being nominated four times. His best place (4th place) came in 2008 after winning the European Championship. Fernando Torres was third that year behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Xavi Hernandez

For many, the best Spanish midfielder and one of the best of all time. The World Cup winner won 3 Bronze Ball awards (2009, 2010 and 2011) and was part of France Football's historic Dream Team, playing in midfield alongside Lothar Matthaus.

Roberto Carlos

Roberto Carlos' attacking ability earned him a nomination for the Ballon d'Or as a full-back. In 1997 and 2002 he came second, on both occasions, behind Ronaldo Nazario.

Paolo Maldini

The Italian is considered one of the best defenders in history, both as a full-back and as a centre-back. Despite losing the World Cup final, he won the Bronze Ball in 1994 after Baggio and Stoichkov. Almost a decade later, in 2003, he received another in the wake of Pavel Nedved and Thierry Henry.

Thierry Henry

Perhaps the 2003 Ballon d'Or could have gone to Henry, but that year he did not win the Premier League or stand out as an individual. He did in 2004 with Arsenal of the Invincibles, but then he didn't even make the podium. He did with a 3rd place finish in 2006 after reaching the Champions League final.

Andrea Pirlo

Italy's stout defence made Cannavaro and Buffon look better for the 2006 World Cup. The elegant Milan and Juventus midfielder was never among the favourites, although he was nominated several times and is remembered as another of the greats.

Dennis Bergkamp

The Dutchman was third in 1992 behind Van Basten and Stoichkov, and in 1993 he was second in the voting behind Roberto Baggio. Another of the greats, whether at Ajax, Arsenal and the Netherlands national team.

Franco Baresi

There is something about Italian defensive football that has led to so many of its nominees being fullbacks. Centre-back Franco Baresi, another of the greats in his position, came in between Van Basten and Rijkaard in the 1989 voting.

Frank Lampard

The midfielder led Chelsea during their most successful period in the first half of the 2000s. In 2005 he was the second best in the world for both France Football and the FIFA World Player of the Year.

Arjen Robben

Robben did not make the podium, although he was among the top nominees on several occasions. His 143 goals and 83 assists in 309 appearances for Bayern established him year after year.

Franck Ribery

The Frenchman was one of the favourites to win it in 2013, but was overshadowed by the duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi. He played 425 games for Bayern from 2008 to 2019, scoring 124 goals and providing 143 assists. He also set the standard for the French national team.

Steven Gerrard

He had brilliant years, in 2005 he was European champion and was behind his compatriot and Ronaldinho on the BdO podium. In 2008, his 24 goals were overshadowed by CR7 and Messi and Spain's Euro Cup.

Alessandro Del Piero

He is another example of class and leadership. His mastery in the final third of the pitch led him to lead Juventus between the 1990s and the 2000s and to shine with the Italian national team, although he never won any major individual awards.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Diego Maradona

Despite his exploits with Napoli and at the World Cup with Argentina, Maradona does not have a Ballon d'Or. The reason is simpler than it seems: in his day, the trophy was only awarded to European players who played in leagues on the continent.