Since 1956 and 1991 respectively, the France Football Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player awards have crowned the greatest player of each particular year, with some of the game’s finest figures recognised for their achievements.
FIFA World Cup™ winners such as Sir Bobby Charlton and Franz Beckenbauer have been honoured, as have mercurial talents including Michel Platini and Marco van Basten, while more recently Ronaldinho and Zinedine Zidane were among those to take the plaudits.
Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi, who collected both accolades in 2009, has taken home the prize on both occasions since the two prestigious awards were combined to create the FIFA Ballon d’Or in 2010.
But which players do you think have been unfortunately overlooked during that period? Who deserved to be acknowledged for their skill and performance? Are they eligible to lift that elusive prize in 2012?
Let us know your thoughts and offer your suggestions by clicking ‘Add your comment’ to share your views with the world – remembering to keep your comments clean, respectful, on-topic and in English.
