'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Michael Owen (Liverpool/England) - 2001
Michael Owen, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2001, was very impressive for Liverpool that year, winning three trophies with the Reds.
The Englishman scored 24 goals that season as Liverpool went on to win the League Cup, the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup. However, his achievements that year could not hold a candle to Real Madrid striker Raul.
The Spaniard finished the season with 32 goals in 50 games and won the Pichichi award that year. Moreover, the striker finished the year with a La Liga title and a Champions League to boot after finished as the top scorer in that edition of the European competition.
So when Owen won the Ballon d'Or award over Raul in 2001, it left people scratching their heads, as the Spaniard clearly had a better season than Owen.
#2 Pavel Nedved (Juventus/Czech Republic) - 2003
The fact that Thierry Henry has never won a Ballon d'Or in his illustrious career is quite simply a travesty.
The Frenchman is thought to be the best player to ever play in the Premier League. Henry was at the peak of his powers in 2003. However, Juventus winger Pavel Nedved went home with the Ballon d'Or award that year.
Granted, Juventus did well that season, retaining their Serie A title as well as lifting the Italian Supercoppa, but there could have been a host of players on the Juventus team who could have been credited as well. Nedved finished that season with eight goals in all competitions, which definitely wasn't even close to warrant him the Ballon d'Or award that year.
When compared to Henry, who had 42 goals and 26 assists that season, Nedved's exploits pale in comparison. The Frenchman ended up winning only the FA Cup with Arsenal that year but went home with the PFA Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards though.
#1 Matthias Sammer (Borussia Dortmund/Germany) - 1996
Matthias Sammer was a solid workhorse in the middle of the park for Borussia Dortmund and Germany.
The defensive midfielder was technically good on the ball and strong in the tackle. But none of that warranted him being anywhere near the Ballon d'Or award in 1996. But the midfielder won the award over two of the greatest strikers of all time.
Alan Shearer, who finished third in the Ballon d'Or voting that year, won the Premier League Golden Boot and PFA Player of the Year awards, which definitely made him more deserving of the Ballon d'Or award than Sammer. Shearer scored 28 goals in all competitions that season and took Newcastle to an unprecedented second place finish in the Premier League.
The player who finished second that year in the Ballon d'Or votes was none other than Ronaldo Nazario. The Brazilian finished the season with 34 goals in 37 games for Barcelona, finishing as the La Liga's top scorer.
Ronaldo led Barcelona to the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de Espana and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, finishing the season with 47 goals and winning the European Golden Shoe.
It was widely expected that Ronaldo, the future World Cup winner, would win the award that year, but the Brazilian finished a point behind Sammer in terms of votes received
