7 times when the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year did not win Ballon d'Or

#2 Zinedine Zidane (2003)

World Player Gala 2003

Zinedine Zidane might have exited the 2002 World Cup under humiliating circumstances, but the French midfielder played a fabulous season with Real Madrid and won the 2003 FIFA World Player of the Year on 15th December 2003, for a then record-equaling third time. The Frenchman finished with 264 points, ahead of his countryman Thierry Henry, who came second with 200 points. Ronaldo came third with 176 points.

A week later on 22nd December, the Ballon d'Or winner was declared. Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved became only the second Czech player to win the award, as he finished with 180 points. Henry finished second yet again, with 128 points, while Italian defender Paolo Maldini came third with 123 points.

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#1 Ronaldinho (2004)

FIFA Centenial World Player Gala 2004

The year 2004 was special in many ways, but for Football fans, it was the last time that the two biggest individual awards in football was won by two different individuals.

On 15th December 2004, Andriy Shevchenko won the 2004 Ballon d'Or on the back of a fantastic season. He secured 175 points, finishing ahead of Portuguese midfielder Deco, who had gathered 139 points to come second and Brazilian wizard Ronaldinho, who had come third with 133 points.

5 days later though, the tables were turned yet again. Ronaldinho was adjudged the 2004 FIFA World Player of the Year, on 20th December. The Brazilian had secured the award with 620 points, while Shevchenko had come third with 253 points. French Striker Thierry Henry had finished second yet again, this time with 552 points.