Several of football’s greatest players have missed out on a place among the top three in the Ballon d’Or rankings despite enjoying outstanding careers and winning major trophies.
While Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated the award between 2008 and 2017, the intense competition for football’s most prestigious individual honour left several exceptional players without a podium finish.
From Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Luis Suarez to Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, here are nine football stars who never finished in the Ballon d’Or top three as reported by Planet Football on Friday
Luis Suárez
Luis Suarez remains one of the most notable omissions from the Ballon d’Or podium, particularly because of his extraordinary performances for Liverpool during the 2013-14 season.
The Uruguayan striker scored 31 Premier League goals, winning the European Golden Shoe and helping Liverpool challenge for the league title.
Despite his remarkable campaign, Suarez failed to make the 23-man shortlist for the 2014 Ballon d’Or.
Reflecting on the recognition he received, Suarez said: “Everyone brings it to attention, as Gerard Pique said, and what he told me is that they voted me as the best player in the most difficult league in the world, or one of the most difficult.”
He added that he had also been the highest goalscorer across Europe’s leagues but preferred to remain quiet rather than risk creating controversy.
Suarez continued to deliver outstanding performances after joining Barcelona in 2014. He helped the Spanish giants win the treble in 2014-15 alongside Messi and Neymar, but the attacking trio’s achievements did not translate into a Ballon d’Or podium finish for him.
The striker scored 59 goals in all competitions during the 2015-16 season, yet Messi, Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann occupied the top three positions in that year’s voting.
Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale enjoyed a trophy-laden career at Real Madrid, winning five Champions League titles and playing a decisive role in several major finals.
The Welsh forward also impressed on the international stage, helping his country reach the semi-finals of Euro 2016.
However, Bale never finished higher than sixth in the Ballon d’Or rankings, a reflection of the extraordinary competition during his peak years.
Despite his speed, goalscoring ability and capacity to deliver in decisive moments, he was unable to break into the award’s top three.
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah established himself as one of the Premier League’s most influential attackers during his time at Liverpool, winning major domestic and European honours.
The Egyptian forward played a central role in Liverpool’s Champions League triumph in 2019 and their Premier League title-winning campaign in 2019-20.
His goalscoring consistency and individual brilliance earned him widespread recognition, but he has never finished in the Ballon d’Or top three.
In 2019, Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk finished second behind Messi following the club’s Champions League success, while Salah missed out on a podium place.
Salah’s achievements have nevertheless secured his place among the outstanding players of his generation.
Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba was one of the defining forwards of his era, leading Chelsea to numerous trophies and establishing himself as a major figure in African football.
The Ivorian striker was particularly influential during Chelsea’s 2012 Champions League triumph, scoring in the final against Bayern Munich before converting the decisive penalty in the shootout.
Despite his importance to the club’s success, Drogba finished eighth in the 2012 Ballon d’Or voting.
The limited representation of African players on the award’s podium has also been a subject of discussion. George Weah remains the only African player to have won the Ballon d’Or, doing so in 1995, while Sadio Mané finished second in 2022.
Drogba’s achievements at club and international level make his absence from the top three a notable omission.
Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti spent his entire senior club career at Roma, becoming one of the most celebrated one-club players in modern football.
The Italian playmaker was admired for his vision, technical ability and creativity. Even three-time Ballon d’Or winner Michel Platini praised his footballing intelligence.
Totti helped Roma win the Serie A title in 2000-01, finishing fifth in the Ballon d’Or rankings that year.
His decision to remain at Roma rather than join a European giant such as Real Madrid may have limited his opportunities to compete for the award, given the club’s comparatively limited success in the Champions League.
Nevertheless, Totti’s loyalty and influence made him one of Italian football’s most respected figures.
Roy Keane
Roy Keane was the driving force behind Manchester United’s midfield during much of Sir Alex Ferguson’s successful reign.
The former Republic of Ireland captain played a crucial role in United’s historic 1998-99 treble-winning campaign, providing leadership, determination and tactical intelligence.
However, Keane never finished higher than sixth in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
Reacting to his highest position during an appearance on the Stick to Football podcast, Keane expressed surprise at the result.
“Sixth!?” he responded when informed of his ranking.
“Me coming sixth makes it a bit of a joke, doesn’t it?”
His lack of a podium finish remains striking given his influence on one of Europe’s most successful teams.
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney is another Manchester United legend who never reached the Ballon d’Or top three.
The club’s all-time leading goalscorer won five Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup and three League Cups during his career at Old Trafford.
Rooney also enjoyed a lengthy international career with England, becoming one of the country’s most prolific goalscorers.
Although he did not match the individual accolades achieved by former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney maintained a high level of performance for more than a decade.
His versatility, creativity and goalscoring ability made him one of the leading forwards of his generation, but he never secured a place on the Ballon d’Or podium.
Andrea Pirlo
Andrea Pirlo was renowned for his exceptional passing range, composure and ability to dictate matches from midfield.
The Italian won the World Cup with his country in 2006 and enjoyed considerable success with AC Milan and Juventus.
Despite his achievements, Pirlo never finished among the Ballon d’Or’s top three.
His quality was recognised in 2020 when France Football included him in its all-time Ballon d’Or Dream Team selection.
However, he was placed in the second team rather than the first, which featured some of football’s most celebrated midfielders and attacking players.
Pirlo’s omission from the podium remains surprising given his influence on the game and his success at the highest level.
Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben was one of the most dangerous wingers of his generation, renowned for his pace, dribbling, and trademark move of cutting inside from the right before shooting with his left foot.
The Dutchman played a pivotal role in Bayern Munich’s historic treble-winning season in 2012-13, scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.
Despite his outstanding performances, Robben never finished in the Ballon d’Or top three.
Former Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge expressed disappointment over the winger’s omission in 2014.
“The fact that Arjen Robben failed to make the top three was a shame,” Rummenigge said.
“It’s barely possible to play better than he has in the last year and a half.”
Robben’s failure to reach the podium was particularly notable during an era dominated by Messi and Ronaldo, who finished first and second respectively in 2013.
The dominance of Messi and Ronaldo during the late 2000s and 2010s made it difficult for other players to secure a place among the Ballon d’Or’s top three.
Their sustained excellence left only limited opportunities for other footballers, including players who had won major trophies or delivered exceptional individual performances.
For stars such as Suarez, Salah, Drogba, Bale and Robben, the absence of a podium finish does little to diminish their achievements.
Their careers demonstrate that footballing greatness cannot be measured by individual awards alone, particularly during an era in which two extraordinary players dominated the global stage.