4 legends who deserved to win the Ballon d'Or

#2 Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard's Champions League performances should've netted him the 2005 Ballon d'Or

It was a bit of an unwritten rule – pre-Ronaldo and Messi of course - that in even-numbered years, the Ballon d’Or would usually go to the outstanding player at that year’s big international tournament (the World Cup or European Championships) while in odd-numbered years, it’d usually go to an outstanding player from that year’s Champions League tournament.

That’s why it’s so curious that Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard somehow didn’t win the Ballon d’Or in 2005. 2004/05 saw Gerrard have perhaps his finest season in a Liverpool shirt, and almost certainly his finest handful of moments.

The Reds surprised everyone that season by winning the Champions League, and it was captain Gerrard who drove them on, in particular, scoring a late goal in the group stage against Olympiakos to ensure Liverpool’s advancement into the knockout round.

Then of course, in the final, he inspired Liverpool to come back from 3 goals down against hot favourites AC Milan to draw 3-3, eventually winning the trophy in a penalty shoot-out. Gerrard scored one goal and won a penalty for another.

Quite how Ronaldinho – who won the Confederations Cup and La Liga that season – beat out Gerrard for the award I’m not sure. Granted, the Brazilian was arguably the world’s best player at that stage, but for his Champions League heroics it was definitely Gerrard who should’ve won the Ballon d’Or.