Many greats of the game have picked up the Ballon d’Or since it’s inception back in 1956, from Real Madrid and Manchester United icons Alfredo Di Stefano and Sir Bobby Charlton, to Dutch duo Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten.
Up until a format change in 2022, the annual prize was awarded to the best player over a 12-month period from January to December – which ensured that performances at major international tournaments were always taken into account.
The eventual recipient of the award is decided by a jury of journalists from FIFA’s 100 top-ranked member nations, who pick and rank their top five from the final 30-man shortlist assembled by France Football. More often than not, this process has led to the most worthy winner being crowned – but there have also been a few very controversial snubs down the years.
Lionel Messi is reportedly set to win his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or at the 2023 ceremony, after inspiring Argentina to glory at the first ever mid-season World Cup – with the voting criteria now only taking into account the achievements of the previous campaign instead of a calendar year.
The Barcelona legend, who is now plying his trade in MLS with Inter Miami, has dominated the Ballon d’Or voting alongside eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo for the best part of 15 years, and he will be fully deserving of what will surely be his final Golden Ball at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday.
However, there have been a couple of occasions in which Messi was somewhat fortunate to scoop the accolade. France Football were guilty of some other questionable calls both before and after the Argentine’s emergence. GOAL ison hand to run down the seven biggest robberies in the history of the Ballon d’Or: