“He was twice behind me in the voting” - When Ronaldo Nazario named 5 players who deserved Ballon d’Or but never won it

Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario once mentioned five players who deserved to win the Ballon d’Or but failed to do so. The award is football’s most prestigious individual honor presented by France Football to the player deemed to have performed the best in a particular season.

Ronaldo is a two-time Ballon d’Or winner. The legendary Brazilian forward won his first in 1997, becoming the youngest player to do so at age 21. Five years later, he was named the best player in the world again after leading Brazil to glory at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

In a chat with ex-Italy international Alessandro Del Piero in 2020, Ronaldo named five players who he believes should have won the award, but never did. He mentioned Francesco Totti, Paolo Maldini, Raul Gonzalez, Del Piero, and Roberto Carlos.

“[Alessandro] Del Piero, [Francesco] Totti, [Paolo] Maldini, Raul Gonzalez... and I think Roberto Carlos, too, because he was twice behind me in the voting. I think these players deserved [the Ballon d'Or]," Ronaldo opined (via MARCA).

Roberto Carlos placed behind Ronaldo in 2002 during his only podium finish. Maldini finished third on two occasions (1994 and 2003), while Raúl was the runner-up in 2001. Meanwhile, Totti and Del Piero never reached the top three.

Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri is the current holder of the Ballon d’Or. He beat Brazil’s Vinicius Jr and England’s Jude Bellingham to the 2024 edition of the award.

2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri claims Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo did not congratulate him

Speaking in a recent interview with Diario AS, Rodri claimed that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo did not reach out to him after he won the Ballon d’Or. The Manchester City star won the award ahead of Real Madrid’s duo of Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham, who finished in second and third, respectively.

Rodri said (via Madrid Xtra on X):

"Messages from previous Ballon d'Or winners? Let me check... There are none from Messi, Cristiano, Modrić or Benzema (laughs).”

The Spanish midfielder beat Vinicius Jr to the accolade by 41 points, becoming the first Spaniard to win the award since Luis Suarez in 1960.

Messi and Ronaldo meanwhile dominated the award for the past two decades. The pair have won a combined 13 Ballons d’Or titles.