Fifteen years before Lionel Messi at FC Barcelona, the left -handed genius was called Hristo Stoitchkov. Exceptional player of the CSKA Sofia (he scored 48 goals in 89-90!), The Bulgarian striker was grandiose for five seasons at the Blaugranas. He was the right winger of Johan Cruyff (as legendary as a coach as a player), in the team which brought back the first Cup of Champions Clubs to Barça, in 1992, and who was nicknamed the “Dream Team” when Romario arrived in 1993.
Hristo Stoitchkov ended up being a 1994 Golden Ball, but he should have won the award of France Football (given to the best European player at the time) in 1992. That year, the Bulgarian ended up 17 goals in Liga and four goals in C1, up to continental coronation against Sampdoria (1-0, AP). He was simply the best European player and his record of the year spoke in his favor.
However, it was Marco Van Basten who finally won his third Ballon d'Or, after 1988 and 1989. The exceptional Dutch scorer had certainly returned from a serious injury to offer a new scudetto to AC Milan, thanks to 25 league goals. But the Rossoneri had not played a European Cup, suspended for a year by UEFA for refusing to finish the quarter -final return of 91 against OM.
Berlusconi to upset the Ballon d'Or?
Just before the vote, Van Basten took advantage of two quadrupled, against Göteborg in C1 and Naples in Serie A, to get ahead of Stoitchkov. “I have a lot of respect and admiration for Marco, don't get me wrong, but I thought I would win it. I am convinced that Berlusconi agitated his media tentacles in order to influence the vote ”once launched the terrible kid from Plovdiv, as reported The team.
Silvio Berlusconi, the very influential president of AC Milan, was at the head of a media empire and himself pushed UEFA to reform its great European Cup, with the appearance of a group stage in 1991 then a change of name in the Champions League the year after. “Il Cavaliere” was able to influence certain journalists forming the jury of France Football ? Unlikely.
Stoitchkov finally had his Ballon d'Or, in 94, a few months after the heavy defeat of Barça in the C1 final against AC Milan (4-0) but also a World Cup semi-final with its selection.
