Golden Ball
After Cristiano Ronaldo won his Fifth Golden Ball in France, Paris, he takes a look at the best players in history who have never been recognized with the prized award.
These are the Ten Legends That Did not Win the Golden Ball
1. Franco Baresi
Between 1987 and 1992, the AC Milan duo that comprised Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten shared four Gold Balls, but at least one of them should have gone to their captain, Baresi. No defender has reached a higher level than the Italian during his heyday. However, the Milan defender was widely considered at the beginning of the 90s as the best '4' of all time.
2. Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry reached the record of 226 goals scored and two Premier League titles won in his first stage at Arsenal, but his efforts will not be enough for the French international in his eagerness to win the coveted Golden Ball. 2004, when he served as leader in an invincible Arsenal that was crowned champion of the Premier if he had lost a single match. In addition, he scored 39 goals in all competitions. However, the award went to Andriy Shevchenko.
3.Andés Iniesta
Few doubt that, had not coincided at the same time as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the manchego would have already won the Golden Ball. At 28 years of age, Iniesta is one of the pillars of FC Barcelona for a decade, in which he has won three Leagues of Champions and five Leagues of Spain. As if that were not enough, it could be said that he has been the star of the Spanish team that has conquered everything in the last four years, scoring the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final and being named the best player in Euro 2012 .
4. Oliver Kahn
Oliver Kahn demonstrated a state of superhuman form in 2001 and 2002, when he could perfectly have won the Golden Ball. In the first of these seasons, among other merits, highlight the three penalties that stopped in the Champions League final against Valencia, that won. Kahn was also made with the Bundesliga, but the throne that season went to Michael Owen.
5. Paolo Maldini
Paolo Maldini's incredible career spanned almost a quarter of a century at the top, and it seems inconceivable that the best left-back of all time - seven Scudettos' winners and five European Cups, among other titles - will never rise with the Ball of Gold. The best year was 1994, when he led AC Milan, accompanied by Baresi and Costacurta, which marked the end of the Cruyff era in Barcelona, defeating the Catalans 4-0 in the Champions League final. However, Hristo Stoichkov was the one who took the prize that year.
6. Bobby Moore
Moore was indispensable when England reached success in the World Cup in Germany in 1966, but it was Bobby Charlton who emerged victorious in that edition of the Golden Ball. A worthy winner. The best result of Moore, English captain, was second in 1970, year of Jairzinho. Historically, the defenders have fought for recognition, with the midfielders and forwards, who dominate the award. Thus, the Moore, Bari, Maldini or Franco were never recognized.
7. Gunter Netzer
About 40 years ago there was no doubt who was the best midfielder in the world. Gunter Netzer, the game's most prominent creator in his position, made one of the most memorable international performances when, with the Federal Republic of Germany, he beat England at Wembley Stadium in the '72 European Championship. It was inspiring and they ended up winning the competition. Netzer finished second, along with his teammate Gerd Müller. Beckenbauer picked up the first of his two Gold Balls.
8. Ferenc Puskas
More than 30 of the winners of the Golden Ball since 1956 have been forwards, but despite the success of Real MAdrid in the early years of the European Cup, Ferenc Puskas surprisingly never won the prize. He only achieved a second place in 1960, behind Luis Suarez. Had the award been created a few years earlier, when Hungary was a world power - he even won 3-6 to England at Wembley, Puskas would surely have been recognized.
9. Raúl González
Despite falling relatively early in the Spanish national team, Raúl's record, with 323 goals, six Leagues and three European Cups, besides having lived many moments of glory at Real Madrid, make him one of the players with the most titles that have never been distinguished with the Golden Ball. The second place in 2001 was his best position, a year in which he won the League and made his highest number of goals in a season. Michael Owen picked up the award.
10. Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff took second place in 1973 by embarking on an unprecedented career of not conceding a single international goal for 21 months. He was behind Johan Cruyff, who was the deserved winner after leading Ajax in the conquest of the third European Cup, in whose final they beat precisely Juventus de Zoff. The goalkeeper lifted the 1982 World Cup with 40 years in Spain, and in that same year he won the Scudetto. However, his selection partner Paolo Rossi took the award.
