'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#1 Xavi: 2009 and 2011
Winner: Lionel Messi for both years
Trending
Xavi Hernandez is probably the greatest player to have never been given a prestigious individual award like the Ballon d'Or or FIFA Best Player of the Year. It speaks volumes about the ability of Ronaldo and Messi that someone like Xavi has not won the prestigious trophy. Xavi had won the treble with Barcelona in 2009, and 2011 saw him be one of the most unstoppable creative forces in midfield. These nominations come sandwiched between all his international triumphs with Spain.
Xavi's best shot came in 2009, as he was the top assist provider in the Champions League as well as the La Liga, along with him winning UEFA Midfielder of the Year that year. In 2011 he finished second in UEFA Player of the Year, but ended up in third place for the Ballon d'Or. Xavi had a mammoth 10 goals and 30 assists in the 2008/09 season, and an impressive 14 goals and 16 assists in 2010/11. It will always be a disservice to a player of Xavi's caliber for not having won this prize.
