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#2 Andres Iniesta
If Xavi was unlucky to miss the award, Iniesta was not far behind either. Few footballers in the history of the game can match Iniesta in terms of ball-skills and elegance. Moreover, Iniesta provided the creative touch to the Barcelona team with his dribbling and through balls. He was no slouch in terms of scoring goals either.
Iniesta scored 70 goals in his entire senior career, but the most important of them came in the 2010 World Cup final against Holland, as it was the only goal scored in the match. He should probably have won the award in the 2009-10 season as Barcelona won the LaLiga and Spain won the World Cup. However, he was voted 2nd in the final ranking. Messi won the Ballon d'Or that year.
He was even better in the 2011-12 season as he helped Barca win the UEFA Champions League and Spain the European Championship. Iniesta was especially dominant in the final against Italy, which Spain won 4-0, and was adjudged the Man of the Match.
That Spanish team remains one of the finest in the history of the game and Iniesta was quite possibly the brightest jewel in the crown. He also scored 8 goals in 46 matches for Barca in the 2011-12 season, but was voted 3rd in the final Ballon d’Or ranking. Messi again won the Ballon d'Or that year.
