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Since 2007, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have taken over the football world, playing at a level that is superior to everyone else. Breaking records and setting new ones every season, the duo has maintained a consistent level of performance with their competitiveness, leading their teams to glory season after season.
Trophies, records and fame have defined their glorious careers. They maintain a level of consistency that has never been witnessed in the game's history, scoring 40, 50 or 60+ goals consistently every season is quite unbelievable. They have so far shared 9 Ballon d'Or awards among them and remain heavy favourites to pick up the award again.
With their astonishing dominance of the Ballon d'Or awards over the past few years, it is a remarkable achievement for anyone who comes close to their level to share the podium with them. Therefore we take a look at the top 5 players who have shared the podium with them in the Ballon d'Or in recent years.
#5 Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann is one of the finest strikers in the world currently. His ability to score goals can only be matched by few players in the current era. He performed at the highest level both for the Franch National team and his club, Atletico Madrid.
The Atletico Madrid hero is the last man to share the Ballon d'Or podium with Messi and Ronaldo when he came third at the Ballon d'Or gala in 2016. That season, he led his club to the final of the UEFA Champions League.
He also inspired his National team to the final of the European Cup, claiming the UEFA Euro Adidas Golden Boot with 6 goals in the competition.
#4 Franck Ribery
The next person on the list is French winger/attacking midfielder, Franck Ribery. His name is well-recognised across Europe for all he has achieved with Bayern Munich. He is one of the greatest players in Bayern's history helping them to various trophies and achievements.
He led the Bundesliga side to win the UEFA Champions League in 2013. That same season, the club also won the Bundesliga title. His impressive performances during the campaign earned him the privilege to share the Ballon d'Or podium with Messi and Ronaldo.
He is one of the few players in the current generation to have competed at such a level, competing with the incredible football geniuses.
#3 Neymar Junior
Neymar Jr. left the Brazilian team Santos FC for Barcelona in an attempt to show his game to the world. At Barcelona, he formed an attacking trio with Argentinian superstar, Lionel Messi and Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez popularly called the 'MSN trio'. Together, they made history, scoring lots of goals and winning lots of trophies. Neymar was very influential in the team helping them to achieve glory on many occasions.
In 2015, he won the UEFA Champions League with FC Barcelona where he scored 10 goals in the competition, the same as Messi and Ronaldo. That season, he won a further 4 trophies including a historic treble for the Spanish side. Due to his brilliant display, he was nominated during the 2015 Ballon d'Or ceremony where he came third behind the two rivals.
That makes him one of the few players to earn such a reputable position in Europe.
#2 Xavi Hernandez
He is arguably the best midfielder of the past decade (2006-2016). Xavi Hernandez is the only player to have shared the Ballon d'Or podium with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for three consecutive years namely 2009, 2010 and 2011. His performances in those seasons were extraordinary and his feats are well-deserved.
The World Cup winner is one of those that pioneered the Barcelona golden era. He won 4 UEFA Champions League trophies, 8 La Liga titles, 2 UEFA Super Cups and many other trophies in a glorious career.
His achievements are numerous, making him one of the most successful players in the World.
#1 Andres Iniesta
He scored the winner for Spain in the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He is one of the Best playmakers of his generation. A hero in Spain and in Barcelona, he is widely recognised all over Europe for his creativity. Alongside Xavi and Busquets, he was key in Barcelona's possession machine under Pep Guardiola.
He is the only footballer who has stolen the second position from the mighty duo at the Ballon d'Or awards when he beat Ronaldo to the second position in 2010. He shared the podium with Messi and Ronaldo twice in his career, making him one of the most competitive players in the last decade.
Moreover, he has 4 UEFA Champions League trophies, 8 La Liga titles, 3 UEFA Super Cups and plenty other trophies to his name.
