3 Players who should have won the Ballon d'Or in the past but didn't

#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.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Abhinav Munshi