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#3 Xavi Hernandez
Xavi Hernandez won everything in both club football and on the international stage and was the midfield orchestrator at Barcelona under Pep Guardiola.
The Spaniard formed an all-conquering midfield three with Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta, but never finished higher than third in the race for the Ballon d’Or.
Xavi wasn’t know for scoring goals or directly providing assists, but it will perhaps be a while before we see a player of his caliber again.
The Spaniard was a pass-master to say the least, and controlled the tempo of games exceedingly well. No team has ever replicated the way Guardiola’s Barcelona used to keep the ball, and Xavi was instrumental in achieving that in the late noughties.
#2 Wesley Sneijder
Wesley Sneijder helped Inter Milan to their first Champions League title in 45 years when the Nerazzurri won it under Jose Mourinho in 2010.
The Champions League win capped off a brilliant season for Inter Milan as they won the treble for the first time in their history.
Sneijder played a key role for the Netherlands in the summer of 2010 as well, as they fell agonizingly short in the final against Spain.
Despite all the aforementioned achievements, Sneijder did not even finish in the top three of the Ballon d’Or standings in 2010 as Lionel Messi picked up the award.
The Dutchman played in an era full of quality midfielders, but he carved out his own name in the history books and should have won a Ballon d’Or for his achievements.
#1 Andres Iniesta
Like Xavi, Iniesta was overlooked twice for the Ballon d’Or. The Spaniard scored in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final, and many believed he should have won the Ballon d’Or award for his performances that year.
Iniesta was silky smooth on the ball and like Xavi, was an astute passer of the ball. He played slightly more forward compared to his compatriot.
The 37-year-old is still playing club football with Vissel Kobe, and will play until at least 2023.
A player of his caliber should have won the Ballon d’Or at least once, but he won’t mind that considering he scored in the World Cup final.
