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Franck Ribery Reveals He's Still Annoyed At Not Winning 2013 Ballon d'Or

Franck Ribery Reveals He's Still Annoyed At Not Winning 2013 Ballon d'Or

The Bayern Munich winger couldn't have had a better year in 2013 but still lost out to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or for 10 years in a row before Luka Modric stopped the run last year, however Franck Ribery should have ended the run much earlier.

No matter who wins the Ballon d'Or there's pretty much always a huge debate about. Even with Luka Modric winning the Champions League and being integral to Croatia's run to the World Cup final there was debate whether the Real Madrid midfielder should have won.


In previous years the award was shared between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and it didn't matter which one did what there was always debate that the other should have won.

Of course despite the pair being the best players in the world throughout that period there was always arguments that some people had better years than them at any one time.

Ronaldo with his Ballon d'Ors. Image: PA Images
Ronaldo with his Ballon d'Ors. Image: PA Images

Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Wesley Sneijder and Manuel Neuer all would have had decent arguments at some point but Franck Ribery might have the best argument.

In 2013 the Frenchman was an integral member of the Bayern Munich team which won the Bundesliga, cup and Champions League treble. That year Ronaldo got 27.99% of the vote, Messi got 24.72% and Ribery got 23.36%

Speaking to L'Equipe, via the Daily Mail, Ribery revealed he's still baffled at missing out, saying:

"I saw myself as the Ballon d'Or. It's the truth. Even today, I think I deserved it. I still haven't digested it. I did everything to have it.

"I ticked all the boxes. I won all I could win with Bayern. I couldn't do better! I did a very, very, very big personal year.

"I had nothing to envy Ronaldo or Messi for, that year. I really took a big hit on the head. I experienced this third place as a terrible injustice.

"I asked the question 10,000 times: why not me? The more I thought, the more I was disgusted. All was not clear."

Ribery had a big year and came very close. Image: PA Images
Ribery had a big year and came very close. Image: PA Images

It took Modric winning the Champions League and getting to a World Cup final, and cynics might say more Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid, for someone to stop the dominant pair.

A Champions League win this season for either Barcelona or Juventus and the award might be going straight back its usual home.

Who will win this year's Ballon d'Or?

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football News, Franck Ribery, World Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Ballon d'Or, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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