Since its creation in 1956, the Ballon d'Or has experienced several lives. While he originally rewarded the best European player, the prize then extended to the best player playing in a European club in 1995, then to the best player in the world from 2007. With a parenthesis, from 2010 to 2015, period during which FIFA teamed upon to France Football.
A blessed era for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who won everything. Argentinian was thus crowned in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015 while the Portuguese won in 2013 and 2014. Not without controversy. In 2013 in particular, the third coronation of “CR7” in front of “La Pulga” and Franck Ribéry had made a lot of attention. A disappointment that French has still not digested.
Franck Ribéry at the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo table in 2013.
“I was at the top of my career in 2013thus loose the former winger of Bayern Munich in an interview granted recently to The team. I had everything except that that year: the Champions League, the double Bundesliga-Coupe of Germany, the world club championship, the title of best European player … It was the perfect year. I couldn't do better. »»
Franck Ribéry victim of a “injustice” in the Ballon d'Or
Problem: by passing under the authority of FIFA, the vote of journalists no longer weighed as much as in the past or today, France Football Having since returned to the trophy while the International Federation launched The Best. Of these six editions, the players and the selectors of each country also had a say. And “Kaiser Franck” paid for it.
Another inconsistency: in 2013, the closure of the ballot had been delayed. “This Golden Ball will forever remain an injusticeregrets the ex-international tricolor (81 selections, 16 goals). I'm still looking for the explanation, even if some have given me. I will never understand that we have rejected the closure of the ballot for more than fifteen days … I was in the lead with journalists. »»
“If the vote had been the same as today, I would have won, says Franck Ribéry, who does not want his two main rivals that year. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have always shown me respect. They knew I was at their table. In all humility, in 2013, I had nothing to envy them. »» An injustice that does not detract from the incredible career made by the Boulonnais.
