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

#3 Manuel Neuer

Goalkeepers usually do not win such awards, but an exception can be made for special performances and Lev Yashin actually did win the award in 1963. Neuer is often called the sweeper-keeper because of his tendency to come out of the goal to thwart attacks and start moves. He is also a great shot-stopper and dependable in the air. All those qualities make his a complete goalkeeper and an asset to his team.

Neuer was exceptional in two consecutive seasons (2012-13 and 2013-14) and should have won the Ballon d’Or on either occasion. He helped Bayern win the treble in 2012-13 by winning the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup with them. He again helped the German national team win the World Cup in 2014. Neuer was the stand-out player in the tournament as Germany kept four clean sheets in it.

He should have probably won the Golden Ball award for the World Cup, which, incidentally was won by Messi. Bayern made it to the semifinal of the Champions League in 2013-14 and won the Bundesliga and again, Neuer was exceptional for them. However, he was voted 3rd in the final ranking of Ballon d’Or in 2013-14. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were voted 1st and 2nd respectively.

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