All the players who would have won the Ballon d’Or if Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were never around.

This is a list of players who would have won the Ballon d’Or if Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo had never existed.

Since 2008, Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the prestigious award, securing a combined 13 titles—Messi with eight and Ronaldo with five. The Argentine claimed his eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023, surpassing Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s last triumph came in 2017 when he outperformed Messi and Neymar.

Without Messi and Ronaldo in the picture, players like Haaland and Neymar would have had their moments of glory. Neymar, who has never won the award, would have two Ballon d’Or titles to his name.

The Messi-Ronaldo era began in 2008, with both players consistently competing for the honor. That year, Fernando Torres finished third behind them, meaning he would have been the rightful winner. From 2009 to 2012, Barcelona legends Xavi and Andres Iniesta would have alternated as Ballon d’Or winners.

In 2013, Franck Ribery would have claimed the title, while goalkeeper Manuel Neuer would have followed in 2014, becoming the first keeper to win the award since Lev Yashin in 1963. Neymar would have secured two Ballon d’Or wins in a span of three years.

Other players who would have claimed the prize in a Messi-Ronaldo-free world include Antoine Griezmann, Virgil van Dijk, Robert Lewandowski, and Erling Haaland.

Hypothetical Ballon d’Or Winners:

2008 – Fernando Torres

2013 – Franck Ribery

2014 – Manuel Neuer

2015 – Neymar

2016 – Antoine Griezmann

2017 – Neymar

2019 – Virgil van Dijk

2021 – Robert Lewandowski

2023 – Erling Haaland