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Arguably the most prestigious individual award in football, the Ballon d'Or has been won by some of the biggest names to have played the game.
The criteria for choosing the winner varies. Winning Europe's premier club competition, the UEFA Champions League, is considered by many to be an important step on the road to the Ballon d'Or.
However, over the years, there have been some superstars who have won the Ballon d'Or but have failed to lift the Champions League trophy. In some cases, these players have won multiple Ballon d'Ors and even World Cups, but the Champions League has remained tantalizingly out of reach.
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We look at five Ballon d'Or winners who never won the Champions League during their career.
#5 George Weah
The only African player to win the Ballon d'Or, George Weah is considered by many to be one of the greatest players not to win the Champions League.
The Liberia international made his name at AS Monaco, where Arsene Wenger played an important role in his development. Technically gifted and an excellent finisher, Weah joined Paris Saint-Germain in 1992, where he won the Ligue 1 and the Coupe de la Ligue titles.
In 1995, he moved to AC Milan. Weah was a consistent goalscorer in his prime and won two Serie A titles with the Rossonerri. His performances led to him winning the Ballon d'Or in 1995. After stints with Chelsea, Manchester City and Marseille, the forward retired in 2003. Weah is currently the President of Liberia.
#4 Lothar Matthaus
Lothar Matthaus enjoyed an excellent career at the very top and represented some of the biggest clubs in world football.
Matthaus began his professional career with Borussia Monchengladbach and joined Bayern Munich in 1984. Regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, the Germany international was renowned for his passing and goalscoring ability. Matthaus earned 150 caps for Germany, scoring 23 goals. He also amassed 410 appearances for Bayern, scoring 100 goals and assisting a further 50.
He enjoyed two spells with Bayern Munich, with four seasons with Inter Milan sandwiched between them. Matthaus won seven Bundesliga titles and one Serie A title during that period, though he could not win the Champions League. The midfielder won the Ballon d'Or in 1990.
#3 Fabio Cannavaro
It is extremely hard for defenders to win the Ballon d'Or, which makes Fabio Cannavaro's triumph in 2006 extremely special.
Cannavaro captained Italy to victory in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, producing world-class performances consistently throughout the tournament. The centre-back enjoyed a good club career as well, playing for clubs like Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid.
Cannavaro won La Liga twice with Los Blancos, but is best remembered for his success with the national team. After retirement, he embarked on a managerial career, and is currently the manager of Chinese top-tier side Guangzhou.
#2 Michael Owen
Michael Owen could have become one of the all-time greats had injuries not played a crucial role in determining his career trajectory.
A prodigious talent, Owen was at his very best during his Liverpool days. A product of the Liverpool academy, he was a prolific goalscorer at a young age for his club. Overall, Owen made 297 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool and scored 158 goals. He won the Ballon d'Or for his incredible individual performances in 2001.
His career, however, slowed down after that. Owen moved to Real Madrid in 2004, but after just one season, the England international signed for Newcastle United. Later, Owen won the Premier League with Manchester United, Liverpool's arch-rivals. However, there has always been a lingering feeling that the striker could have achieved a lot more in the game.
#1 Ronaldo Nazario
Ronaldo Nazario is arguably the greatest player not to have won the Champions League.
O Fenomeno is regarded as one of the all-time greats. Ronaldo added a new dimension to the role of the striker, and his style of play influenced future generations of footballers. Many stars of modern football have admitted to looking up to the Brazil international during his prime.
Physically gifted, technically strong, an excellent passer and a world-class finisher, Ronaldo had it all. The Brazilian, who helped his country win the World Cup twice, won the Ballon d'Or twice as well. He represented clubs like PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
Ronaldo Nazario remains an iconic player to this day. It is frightening to imagine what he might have accomplished if not for injuries.
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