Between Luka Modric and the hegemony of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best footballers in the world, there are more winners. Today we review 5 Ballon d’Or winners you probably don’t remember…
The Milan striker received the award for Best Player in the World in 1995, becoming the first African with this distinction to date. In the vote that year he beat the German Jürgen Klinsmann and Jari Litmanen.
Possibly few – or hardly anyone – remember that Matthias Sammer won the Ballon d’Or 1996 and others will not know who we are talking about. The German midfielder stood out with the Borussia Dortmund shirt between 1993 and 1998, winning the European Championship and the Champions League. In the election he beat Ronaldo and Alan Shearer. Craziness!
Owen, after rising to fame at the 1998 World Cup in France, had the best stage of his career at Liverpool until reaching his peak in 2001. In that year he won five titles: FA Cup, Community Shield, Carling Cup, UEFA Cup, European Super Cup and was additionally chosen as the Best in the world. He surpassed Raul and Oliver Kahn.
The Czech midfielder reached the peak of his career in 2003 when he played for Juventus. That year he was Champion of Serie A and the Italian Super Cup, and was one step away from lifting the Champions League, but the Vecchia Signora fell on penalties against Milan.
This is how he took Golden Ball in 2003 above Thierry Henry and Paolo Maldini.
The best Ukrainian in all history received the prize of Best Soccer Player in the World in 2004 while he shone at Milan. Champion of Serie A and the Italian Cup that year, he beat Deco and Ronaldinho, both Barcelona stars, in the election.
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