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#3 Andriy Shevchenko in 2004 (AC Milan and Ukraine)
Andriy Shevchenko played for multiple clubs, including Chelsea, in a career spanning over nearly two decades.
His most notable spell came in his prime when he played for AC Milan. Shevchenko scored an impressive 127 Serie A goals in 208 total games for Milan during his seven-year stay. The Ukrainian was instrumental in the attacking third, helping his club win the Champions League title in the 2002-03 season.
Shevchenko scored the all-important away goal in the semi-final against arch-rivals Inter Milan, sending AC Milan into the final. He scored in the penalty shoot-out against Juventus to help his side lift the "Big Ears".
The following season Shevchenko scored an impressive 24 goals in 32 Serie A games, winning the Ballon d'Or in 2004. However, many argue that Porto and Portugal midfielder Deco had a better year and deserved the award more.
Deco was instrumental in helping Jose Mourinho-managed Porto to a stunning Champions League crown. They also won the Primeira Liga title ahead of rivals Benfica. He recorded a mouth-watering 29 assists that season!
Many questioned whether the size and reputation of the club the two nominees played for had anything to do with the result. Deco had to settle for second place.
#2 Jean-Pierre Papin in 1991 (Marseille and France)
This edition of the Ballon d'Or was interesting to say the least. Jean-Pierre Papin's Marseille faced eventual runners-up Dejan Savicevic and Darko Pancev's Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA European Cup (now Champions League) final in 1991. The game ended 0-0 after 120 minutes of play, leading to a penalty shoot-out which the Serbians heroically won 5-3.
Jean-Pierre Papin, despite being on the losing side, walked away with the Ballon d'Or later that year.
The Frenchman had a respectable 34 goals and five assists in 49 total games that season. Six of his goals and three assists came in nine European Cup games.
However, Papin was not the favorite to win the award. Far from that, considering Darko Pancev and Red Star's triumph in the European Cup. That included an incredible goal against Bayern Munich:
Pancev had an astounding 45 goals in 48 games that season, five of them coming en route to Red Star's European glory.
Questions were raised about the magazine France Football's integrity. They were accused of favoring a compatriot over a nominee with stronger credentials. It will go down as one of the most surprising awards in football history.
#1 Pavel Nedved in 2003 (Juventus and Czech Republic)
Pavel Nedved was an important component of Juventus' midfield machine in the early 2000s. In 327 appearances for the Old Lady, Nedved scored 65 goals and provided 59 assists. He helped them win two Serie A titles and finish as the runners-up in the Champions League in 2002-03.
At the end of that year, the Czech Republic international was awarded the Ballon d'Or. This came much to the shock and dismay of many football fans around the world, especially those in pockets of North London and France.
Nedved had 31 goal contributions in 46 games that season, a tally worthy of any top accolade. However, runner-up Thierry Henry only had a cool double of what Pavel Nedved could manage.
He had an astounding 62 goal contribution in 55 games. That included 26 assists and 24 goals in 37 Premier League games. For a forward, that kind of assist tally was unreal until recently Lionel Messi showed us otherwise.
The Frenchman was putting up God-like numbers before we were spoilt by the Argentine.
One can argue that Nedved led his Juve side to the Champions League final in 2003, which they eventually lost. However, the Ballon d'Or was established as an award for a player's individual achievements, not that of his team's.
Pavel Nedved's victory surely made several thousand fans across the globe question the award's credibility.
