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The Ballon d'Or, bestowed by France Football, is awarded to the standout player in a calendar year for club and country.
Since its inception in 1955, many world-class players in the game's history have won the Ballon d'Or. Of the 25 different players to have won the prestigious award, ten have done so on multiple occasions.
However, only two out of these ten players, and seven overall, have also won the FIFA World Cup. On that note, here's a look at the five greatest Ballon d'Or winners who have not laid their hands on the World Cup:
#5 Marco Van Basten (Netherlands) - three-time Ballon d'Or winner
Marco van Basten was one of the top strikers during his playing days. The AC Milan and Netherlands legend won three Ballon d'Or awards in the late 80s and early 90s.
Van Basten, though, never won the FIFA World Cup. In his only appearance at the quadrennial tournament in Italy in 1990, the 57-year-old managed only two assists in four games. However, Denmark were knocked out in the Round of 16.
Van Basten does have a major international title in his illustrious resume. The three-time Serie A winner scored one of the goals of the tournament in the Euro 1988 final, netting from an almost impossible angle against the Soviet Union. He scored five goals in that tournament to help the Netherlands secure the title.
After also playing a key role in Milan's Serie A victory that year, Van Basten won his first of three Ballon d'Or awards. He won two more in the next four years before persistent injuries cut short a promising career.
#4 Michel Platini (France) - three-time Ballon d'Or winner
Michel Platini is one of the finest goalscoring midfielders in the game's history. The diminutive Frenchman's goalscoring record put many a fine striker to shame.
The two-time Serie A winner made his first appearance at the FIFA World Cup in 1978. However, Platini only managed a solitary assist in three games as Les Bleus were knocked out in the group stage.
Four years later, Platini fared better - bagging two goals and as many assists - but France lost to eventual finalists West Germany on penalties in the semis. Fast forward two years and Platini plundered a record nine goals as France won their first major title - the 1984 European Championship.
The three-time Serie A top-scorer was now also a three-time Ballon d'Or winner when he made his final appearance at the World Cup in 1986.
However, once again France ran into West Germany in the semis, this time losing 2-0. Platini, who scored twice in the tournament, didn't feature in the third-place playoff game against Poland, which Les Bleus won.
#3 Johan Cruyff (Netherlands) - three-time Ballon d'Or winner
Johan Cruyff is one of five players to win at least three Ballon d'Or awards. The late Dutchman is widely regarded as one of the most skilful and talented players to play the beautiful game.
Cruyff won three European Championships with Ajax and a league title with Barcelona, among others. However, arguably his greatest contribution to the game was the introduction of the revolutionary 'total football' philosophy.
Unsurprisingly, Cruyff remains one of the best players to have never won the FIFA World Cup. In his only appearance in the quadrennial tournament in 1974, the brilliant Dutchman bagged two goals and seven assists, including one in the final.
However, West Germany recovered from an early deficit as one of the most brilliant teams ever assembled in international football returned empty-handed.
Cruyff opted out of the 1978 World Cup due to personal reasons. The three-time Ballon d'Or winner was long retired when the 1982 edition came around.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - five-time Ballon d'Or winner
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of only two players to win at least five Ballon d'Or awards. He has one of the most glittering resumes in club and international football. However, the FIFA World Cup title is conspicous in Ronaldo's trophy cabinet.
In fact, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has never played in a FIFA World Cup final. In his first appearance at the tournament in 2006, Ronaldo and co. were knocked out by France in the semis. The then 21-year-old scored just once in six games in that tournament, and has improved that tally to seven goals in 17 games overall.
In his next two World Cup appearances, Portugal were eliminated in the Round of 16 and in the group stage respectively. In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo lit up the tournament with a sumptuous hat-trick against Spain in a six-goal thriller in 2018. However, Portugal fell short in the Round of 16 against Uruguay.
With Portugal making it into the 2022 FIFA World Cup playoffs, the Euro 2016 winner would like to have one last go at the only major trophy to have eluded him.
#1 Lionel Messi (Argentina) - seven-time Ballon d'Or winner
Like Ronaldo, Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the best players ever to have graced the game.
Much like his illustrious counterpart, Messi has scored goals and won big titles galore for club and country. However, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has failed to take Argentina to World Cup glory in four attempts.
Messi did come close in 2014, scoring four goals. But La Albiceleste lost to Germany in the final as the Golden Ball winner drew a blank in the big game.
Like Ronaldo, Messi's return of six goals in 19 World Cup games is pretty underwhelming, considering his staggering exploits in club football. However, after inspiring Argentina to their first title in nearly three decades this summer, the 2021 Copa America winner will have his eyes on the big one next year.
