🏆 Most debated Ballon d’Or wins: Nedved, Ribéry, Messi, CR7 💥

The Ballon d’Or is the most coveted individual trophy in football. Every year, it crowns the best in the world, blending talent, charisma, and achievements.

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In 2025, the winner was Ousmane Dembélé, the driving force of Paris Saint-Germain, with 53 matches, 35 goals, and 16 assists in the season that culminated with the Champions League victory.

If this year’s choice seems to have convinced everyone, in the history of the award there have been editions that have divided the football world.

Germany triumphs at the European Championship and the Ballon d’Or goes to Matthias Sammer. But Ronaldo “The Phenomenon” is already explosive, and many see him as the true dominator of the year. The victory by just one point leaves discussions open for months, with the added regret of a great Alex Del Piero.

Michael Owen lifts the Ballon d’Or thanks to successes in the UEFA Cup, European Super Cup, and English domestic cups. But he wins neither the Premier League nor the Champions League. Oliver Kahn, hero of the final against Valencia, and Francesco Totti, a protagonist with Italy at the Euros, are pushed into the background.

Pavel Nedved wins the award, surpassing Thierry Henry and leaving Paolo Maldini only in third place. The Milan captain, European champion, Coppa Italia, and Super Cup winner, seemed to have everything to win, but the jury chose the Czech from Juventus.

Ronaldinho plays a magical season and conquers the world with his class. However, the sensational comeback in Istanbul led by Steven Gerrard with Liverpool makes many think that the Reds’ captain deserved at least to finish higher than third place.

Inter wins the Treble with Wesley Sneijder at the heart of the play and Diego Milito as the driving force. Yet the Ballon d’Or once again goes to Lionel Messi. A decision that infuriated Inter fans and even Massimo Moratti, convinced that the Dutchman deserved more.

Bayern Munich dominates everything with Franck Ribery as the undisputed star, but the Ballon d’Or goes to Cristiano Ronaldo. A choice that left the French striker bitter and convinced he had missed the opportunity of a lifetime.

Cristiano Ronaldo repeats the following year thanks to Real Madrid’s “Decima.” Yet just a few months later, Germany wins the World Cup with a sensational 7-1 over Brazil and Manuel Neuer plays an extraordinary tournament. The idea that a goalkeeper can never truly win this award returns to being a common feeling.

Ten years later, new controversies. Messi lifts his seventh Ballon d’Or but Robert Lewandowski, coming off an extraordinary season with the Bundesliga goal record, is left empty-handed. Many believe that the “Flea” also benefited from the canceled 2020 edition, which would have gone to the Pole.

This year’s winner was Ousmane Dembélé, the driving force of PSG who managed to bring home the Treble.

A triumph for the Frenchman – never in the top 30 before this edition’s victory – that is sparking debate: for many, the one who deserved the title of best in the world was Lamine Yamal.

The Barcelona gem must ‘settle’ – so to speak – for the Kopa Trophy, the award for the best young player, won for the second year in a row.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

📸 FRANCK FIFE – AFP or licensors