Ranking the GREATEST Ballon D'Or Campaigns EVER | The Eye Test

[@LyesBouzidi]

The topic that took twitter by storm🤣👀

[@14_Phoenix]

2018/19 Messi for me is THE DEFINITION of a complete player. He was godlike. He solo carried that corpse of a team to almost a treble. Every play was pure messi. Valverde's tactic was "pass to messi and say bismillah"

[@jiahaogoh2822]

As good as a footballer is, football is played with 11 men and 1 man cannot beat a team by himself. Its sad because he carried so hard that season

[@VelianFootball]

@@jiahaogoh2822 if you watched that season, Messi was carrying that team.

[@jiahaogoh2822]

@@VelianFootball of course. only him and ter stergen were playing

[@navis462]

What’s bismillah?

[@Deathmare235]

@@jiahaogoh2822sad how in the end ter stegen is blamed as the main scapegoat, and maybe a bit for pique and lenglet but mainly him

[@ichmagreis69]

Before I watch the video, I really hope you put Lewandowski 2020 in here. He should remain in history as a Ballon Dor winner

[@mark-kq7rc]

Yes in my eyes he won it, but that is not one of the best ballon d'or seasons

[@lovemannen6176]

They should give it to him when he retires or something along those lines

[@domparsyou1109]

stop begging it

[@pauliyonas3576]

​@@mark-kq7rcThat is definitely One of the best ballon d'or season 55 goals and 10 assists in 47 games plus scoring 15 goals in UCL

[@thetruth4654]

Lewandowski was robbed of two Ballon D’ors

[@yuckesh]

18/19 Messi was the most complete player to ever walk this earth. You simply cannot SINGLEHANDEDLY drag a team so so close to a treble. The goals, the assist, the playmaking, DEMBELE. Outrageous man.

[@javadrav8913]

This may be a crazy take but the fact that Wirtz went invincible and isn’t even spoken of is wild. It’s almost glanced over, they took over Germany and Bayern in excellent fashion, won their cup, and lost in the Europa League final. Wirtz put up 20/20 stats if I believe and also had a decent euros. So I think Wirtz should be in the top 5 balon dor conversations

[@JobHans]

The fact yamal got voted higher tells everything

[@WaterChamp2]

These awards are political and popularity contests. One thing you'll never see is a German or a Bundesliga star get the recognition they deserve.

[@utkurhalilov2430]

Messi 2018/19 was PEAK! And IMO the best version of him. He had everything in his locker, playmaking, dribbles, goals, assists, free kicks. No other year competes with that, he almost won the treble single handedly with that bum squad and a bum manager.

[@GOATZELWARDBANDWAGON.]

I wouldn’t say best but definitely his most technically complete. Cause the raw pace he used to have was game breaking. Definitely best player itw that season imo tho. One man team that year. Prime Van dijk was just unfortunate with the timing, but when a free roaming playmaker gets 73 g/a it’s always hard to overlook that. (Context Vini is about to win with 35)

[@utkurhalilov2430]

@@GOATZELWARDBANDWAGON. He wasn't slow by any means, wasn't as fast as the previous years yes. But he compensated with his playmaking and free kicks and decision making. (Not that his other years were bad, but you know what I mean) 18/19 was the most complete and the best version of him.

[@tk78junior64]

You can’t beat that 91 goals in a season

[@chillspot331]

Messi 2019 dealt with what Ronaldo did in 2018 and Ronaldo.actually won the UCL

[@utkurhalilov2430]

@@tk78junior64 Look I don't wanna crap on any of his seasons, all of his years were out of this world. 2011/12 was a freak. But I don't think he was as complete as 18/19

[@iLeetjeeh]

Ronaldo against Sweden is one of the best games of a single player I have ever seen. Every goal was a banger. The assists sometimes even better than the goal. Absolutely NUTS!

[@bxvidal]

That Benzema BDO was special man… One of the greatest CL runs I’ve seen from a player.

[@rayanelmakhokhi1776]

The audacity to do a Panenka against city in the semis…😮‍💨 what a season.

[@pabloalvarez2967]

It was fantastic, I’m happy it finally gave him the flowers and recognition he so thoroughly deserved throughout his career. The only “downside” was it pushed other players who were also fantastic for Madrid to the side. Vini had finally announced himself as one of the best in the world, Cortouis kept them in so many games, Casemiro anchoring the midfield together, Camavinga and Rodrygo being massive impact players off the bench. Such an insane campaign in general, and arguably the toughest run any team has gone through in the champions league before

[@DivySolo]

Messi 2011 and 2012 that's the highest peak of a player

[@zeeo3147]

Facts

[@smokiones]

Funny that's second highest peak of any player is Messi 2015 or 2019, bro was that good

[@navis462]

You must have been five years old. That version of Messi scored almost 100 goals in a calendar year, he was at his highest physical peak at around the age of 23 and looked at times like the best defender in the world with some of the tackles he had. 2015 and 2019 is everything that Messi was in 2011, but no where near at his physical prime, or even goals scored brah…

[@smokiones]

@@navis462 yeah agreed, that's why I said second highest peak, not first. Best version of Ronaldo or any other player is worse than 2015/2019 Messi

[@intheskies8081]

@@navis462you have poor reading comprehension.

[@Arctioa]

My favorite Ronaldo ballon dor was 2016/17. was the year he got 2 champions league goals in the group stages and Messi got 11 in the group stages. In the knockout rounds Messi ended with 11 goals when he got knocked out and Ronaldo ended up with 12 as the top scorer. He was so clutch in the knock out rounds

[@Al-ji4gd]

To be fair to Shevchenko, in 2004 he scored 33 goals in that calendar year for Milan, won the Serie A, won the European and Italian supercups, scored a ton of goals for Ukraine in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers for Ukraine (4 goals in 3 games), helping them finish top of the group and qualify for a major tournament for the first time ever. And, tbh, in Europe, outside Raul, Shevchenko was Mr. Champions League. He ALWAYS scored against the top teams, whether it was Madrid, Barca, Juve, Inter, etc.. so it's not a surprise he won it.

[@90_plus_1]

Cam is right about them being vague. The calendar year was what it was judged on, but the winner was always decided by the end of the club season (or international tournament in certain years).

[@SpiderByte9710]

Every one talking about Messi’s 18/19 campaign and rightly so but personally feel like his 14/15 was slightly better. Of course winning the treble has something to do with that, but I personally feel like that was the best version of him to watch. He had everything he did in 18/19 but also his electric pace. That said, I loved watching his game evolve as he got older

[@syukrihantu]

yup, 14/15 Messi was my favorite to WATCH. perfect blend of eye test vs stats.

[@kingluis6360]

Kaka’s win will never be topped for me. Being in Australia, every champions league game I’d drag a mattress into the lounge room at my parents house, and set my alarm to watch that Milan team, and Kaka in particular. And he delivered time after time after time.

[@amann7166]

His league campaign was average, and he didn't play at the Copa America with Brazil, so not one of the strongest wins.

[@maratnahimana]

@@amann7166 The champions league was enough honestly but the Copa America would've solidified his win especially since he ended up winning both Ballon D'or and World Player of the Year.

[@alishurrab]

I adore those personal stories at the end, my favourite parts of your content

[@ondrejmachalek319]

regarding Nedvěd, i know its been a long time and me being czech probably also gives me a bias because of how the czech media covered it, but from what i remember Nedvěd winning the ballon dor that year wasnt really controversial at all then because of how crucial he was to Juventus and the Czech national team, it only became a robbery once kids on football twitter learned about it. when he got booked in that semifinal and it was clear he wasnt gonna play the final, people were saying Juve have no chance without Nedvěd, and if he didnt get injured in the semifinals of EURO 2004 vs. greece we may well would have won the whole thing bc of how good our generation was that year

[@thetruth4654]

Nedved and Schevchenko both deserved Ballon D’ors ahead of someone like Henry, it’s just revisionism, Arsenal fans and people with prem bias, tend to wanna rewrite History.

[@ondrejmachalek319]

​@@thetruth4654 yeah and also i feel like people just didnt care that much about who won the ballon dor before the Messi/Ronaldo rivalry and before social media

[@Deathmare235]

@@thetruth4654not shevchenko that wasnt his best that year and certainly not better than invincibles Henry

[@Deathmare235]

Tbf I feel bad for him and 03 isn’t even Henry’s best season, the invincibles is better

[@maratnahimana]

@@Deathmare235 I think if he won either the UCL or the WC in 06

[@Niibaah]

Messi vs Ronaldo was born in 2007 when Ronaldo came 2nd Balon dor and Messi also came 2nd in FIFA player of the year, that's when the rivalry started. OGs know. It just escalated in 2009

[@Gianni225]

I hate how nobody talks about players and football from the 20th Century. So many amazing players and history gets forgotten because people don’t talk about it. I get people are young and didn’t live through that time but shit is just sad to me that the people who created and paved the way for this sport we love don’t get their flowers.

[@De3dSh0t]

As a long time follower of you two, I must request an episode with the #OG Papa Bouzidi. Remembered the episode Lyes did with him on FTBL culture when he was telling the Ronaldo story, we need him to feature.

[@benthestreetsarfa7454]

Fantastic Episode idea guys love the imagination you guys have for the topic to talk about 👏🏿👏🏿

[@zario422]

Kaka's felt magical

[@Junior-hr6qb]

I'm not even gonna lie that 2020/21 Lewandowski was one of the greatest strikers performances we've ever seen and he should definitely get his trophy

[@pharoahball]

Fav podcast🔥

[@Blade1-c7g]

"Didn’t score in the Fa cup final” but got MOTM the same game ??? That season, he was on another level-24 goals and 20 assists in the Premier League alone, which no striker has matched since. In total, he was involved in over 40 goals, while Nedvěd’s numbers were far lower. Henry wasn’t just racking up stats; he was also the best entertainer, performer, and the player everyone wanted to watch. Week after week, he’d pull off something incredible, whether it was scoring from impossible angles or dribbling past entire defenses. He didn’t just dominate games; he brought flair, excitement, and creativity that set him apart from anyone else on the pitch. The Ballon d'Or overlooked all of this for Nedvěd, who, while talented, didn’t bring the same magic or level of consistency. Henry had the numbers, the moments, and the influence that defined an era of football and he didn't get the ballon dor for that. I doubt you guys watched Thierry Henry or Pavel Nedved play that season because you have to be a certain age to watch them play. You can't use team achievement and stats to look back on that season to paint the full picture because you just had to be there.

[@Al-ji4gd]

Because it's not just a stats game, it's no doubt a striker had more goals/assists than a bloody midfielder, who just happened to be playing in a better league. You're just salty that Henry didn't win because he has absolutely no argument over Nedved that season, none. You're talking about Henry as if he wasn't doing 90% of that stuff against the likes of Bolton, Sheffield and Charlton in the league, whilst Nedved was doing it against Milan, Barca and Madrid.

[@Deathmare235]

So nedved was the better player in a harder league but Henry is the better “pure footballer” I know who’d my ballon d’or pick be

[@thetruth4654]

No Henry wasn`t robbed for a ballon d`or, both Nedved and schevchenko both deserved it ahead of Henry

[@Al-ji4gd]

Facts

[@90_plus_1]

2006 spot on. Ronaldinho was the best player by miles. Incredible in La Liga and the UCL and won both. But because he had just a decent World Cup (poor by his standards but he didn't play badly and did have one great game)... Pirlo was better than Cannavaro that tournament, player of the tournament. If France won it then Zizou would have won it... Cannavaro defo won it PURELY for that game against Germany - but even in that game Pirlo was MOTM haha... weird year, Dinho was robbed imo but shout out Napoli's finest academy product.

[@anishmandal7371]

Exactly bro Ronaldinho deserved it but if wc matters so Pirlo deserved that ballon d or by mile Pirlo is by far the best player of that wc alongside zidane the guy literally single handedly dominate the midfield of Italy in final also Pirlo was MOTM, bcz cannovaro was the captain of that team so they gave it to him but his contributions is nowhere near to Pirlo contributions in that campaign

[@langletprolet8378]

I think a lot of people attribute that 1 Balon D'Or Dinho has with the 2006 season too. Like its a more iconic season than even his previous one (where he did won Balon D'Or). World Cup year seems to always be kind of a weird year for Balon D'Ors

[@90_plus_1]

@@langletprolet8378 Yeahm the fact that he won the Ballon d'Or halfway through I think people kinda felt he'd already had his award. But he deserved another.

[@ITACHITHEGOAT-gg4ky]

@@langletprolet8378 etoo was the best player in 2006 ands Ronaldinho was exciting to watch

[@maratnahimana]

@@ITACHITHEGOAT-gg4ky It's because Cameroon wasn't in the world cup I think

[@thandekilethomas9484]

10/11 Messi was absolutely stupid, Cams is on point, that was the best Messi for me, 2015 and 2019 are 1b and 1c, but 10/11 for me is the greatest version of any player ever

[@TheSportEffective]

Agree with Cr7 vs Sweden in 2013 was defo the most crowning moment in securing the award.

[@deadgaming1167]

Messi 11/12 and 18/19 are probably his best seasons. But 14/15 is my favorite his best dribbling year and a treble

[@Philipstyrer]

I was thinking of that Ronaldo/Zlatan game when Cam asked about the one moment.

[@jakek3653]

2011 Messi night night MJ like forsure

[@TheArsenal21]

I think 18-19 Messi was peak, Barca probs should have won the CL and that's cause Messi was as close to perfect as you could get

[@wayneverhoff2790]

Shevchenko had that CR7 vs Sweden moment tho with Ukraine

[@railyj29]

Renegotiate your contract with BR so you can put these on Spotify please 🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@OtisMo]

You gentlemen KNOW BALL.

[@algernontheabsurd4450]

Cams should make a football history channel or at least playlist

[@wayneverhoff2790]

You forget the context surrounding Henry with France. He was supposed to take the mantel from Zidane and then went ghost.

[@CJVP99]

R9 1996/97

[@Secretninja98]

The same sceanrio with you and becoming a Man U fan, is how I became a city fan. I started Uni not watching football and my roommate would always be awake at 7 am on weekends after we went out the night before. One week I was like na, what is this kid doing this early? I come to common room and Man City was losing to spurs (Typical). Since then I've been a city fan (17/18), so just randomly losing Aguero 4 years later hurt so bad. That's how its going to feel with KDB 😔😔

[@jarrydtuivasa-inglis7405]

Where’s the jumper from?

[@90_plus_1]

Thierry Henry did get out of the group stage - but to answer the question it's Rivaldo 1999. There might be others, obviously plenty of Ballon d'Or winners also didn't play in the UCL. Nedved had a very fair shout, it gets disrespected, but equally it's more than fair to say Henry deserved it as he was better as an individual.

[@amann7166]

Although that wasn't Rivaldo's fault. He absolutely shredded Man United at the Camp Nou, but Barcas defense was a fucking joke during the Van Gaal years.

[@90_plus_1]

@@amann7166 Yeah - what's amazing is Rivaldo did it all whilst Van Gaal wanted to play him out of position. I believe he played almost half the games on the wing and then in the second half of 1999 they fell out. Van Gaal played him on the wing more and his form began to drop, naturally. But it didn't in '99. Unreal year from him.

[@amann7166]

@@90_plus_1 yeah they fell out after he won the Ballon d'Or. He went to Van Gaal's office and told him that he won't longer play on the wing. To be fair to Van Gaal, I think Rivaldo was at his best when he played at the left wing, often cutting inside and being a hybrid of an atm and left winger.

[@BiggestChungus21]

The dream that season? He was a sight to behold. Didn’t have the greatest season but he did have the single greatest champions league run of all time including Ronaldo and Messi. Nobody can say that. He lived up to the name. Karim the dream Benzema. He was the single most feared champions league player of all time. Teams were coming in hoping this is the time they win nope. The dream destroys you

[@CB-ns6sy]

0:01 Why Lyes looking at me like that?

[@aleksandratayev]

Ronaldinhos goal vs Chelsea is Ballon Dor winning moment. If not for that goal , Lampard probably takes it home.

[@maratnahimana]

I think you're forgetting his Confederations Cup campaign where he ended up being the all time goal scorer of the competition and lead Brazil to their 2nd win.

[@jackpot378]

That benzy ucl run , not even messi had , it felt like a movie script

[@elarabymohammed1]

The disrespect to Carvajal is crazy!

[@invincible0463]

Nedved himself said henry shouldve won it at the time. Although i agree 2004 was an even better case. Ronaldinho won fifa world player of the year in 2004 without winning a single trophy. Messi won ballon dor in 2012 without la liga or champions league. Zindane didnt need to have perfect years of stats or trophies when they gave him all his awards. And then in 2004 henry premier league golden boot, European golden boot, most g/a in europe. Won league unbeaten. Also when the prem overtook serie a henry was still the best player in the prem. When jose came in. Still winning golden boots every year. And every time henry played italian opposition they couldnt live with him.

[@Al-ji4gd]

Of course the Arsenal fan would say that. And even your last sentence is only based on 2 games, where was he all those other games vs Milan?

[@zeo4481]

Messi 18/19. Greatest player to walk on a pitch

[@jimbojimbo6873]

Liyez lasirena bouzidi out here

[@_HarshGarbyal]

Beckham’s goal against Greece in 2001 should’ve been his Ballon D’or moment.

[@Al-ji4gd]

One free-kick in a game against Greece? Lol, don't make me laugh.

[@_HarshGarbyal]

@@Al-ji4gd How else do you define a moment? It was the culmination of everything he had done that year. And not to forget a complete role reversal of what he had ended the previous world cup as.

[@Al-ji4gd]

@@_HarshGarbyal A free-kick against a lowly team, no matter how important, is not enough to do anything for you, sorry. It wasn't even during a major tournament, it was a bloody qualifier.

[@MarcoVanPolo14]

The only player robbed of a Balon d’Or in 03 or 04 was Deco. Nobody could touch him. Won the UEFA Cup, Champions League, Super Cup, League titles, Cups. Crucial goals and assists plus game dominating performances. Runner up in Euros 04. If you really know ball you know Deco was the cream of the crop for those 2 years. Arguably better than Cannavaro in 2006 also.

[@Al-ji4gd]

Deco super overrated. Living off that one season, and even then he was never the best player in the world at any point. If you look at '04, the 3 best playes were probably Dinho, Sheva and Henry.

[@accidentaltherapist6597]

Henry scored 32 and assisted 24 times

[@gravejello2331]

Don’t know why people are questioning Cams age. He’s 43 he just has a baby face. #BlackDon’tCrack

[@fredrickmazeli8340]

He's 43? Bruh looks young as hell swore like he was 26

[@amann7166]

Wtf? What???

[@JobHans]

Damn

[@maratnahimana]

No way he's Zlatan and Eto'o age

[@efisounds]

That sweater is cold

[@manaphyonfire]

I’m trying to find where Lyes got it.

[@LyesBouzidi]

Saturday’s Football is the brand🤝

[@advikvisentini134]

Does anyone know what the sweater that lyes is wearing? It's 🔥

[@TerryHenry-sk9ye]

I'm sorry, but this is a bit of re-writing of history by Cams/Lyes regarding Nedved. Yes, the serie a had more rep, but the prem's rep was definitely growing, and they had a higher uefa coefficient by 04 than serie a did. Any perception of serie a dominance, was perception lagging behind reality, and I remember joking with my friends that it was turning into a retirement league. This is not the same as serie a vs the PL today AT ALL, where the prem is genuinely way more dominant. And even if he's right, he's giving a horrible justification for Nedved winning - it's essentially saying, yeah the glamour of the league won it, but it shouldn't have. If Henry played for Man United, or Liverpool or Milan or Barcelona, he wins 2 ballon d'ors, if not 3. And he's not in the tier of "Xavi and Iniesta" - he's in the tier of Dinho, Neymar, R9 lmao. These guys are disrespectful to one of the best players of all time. It's just confirmation bias for what already happened. If someone told you today that Lampard won it in 05 ahead of Dinho, these guys would lose their minds - but how is that different to Nedved vs Henry?

[@LyesBouzidi]

Winning matters bro. Its not as if League status was the only reasoning Cam gave in the whole video

[@TerryHenry-sk9ye]

@@LyesBouzidi So why should Lampard not win over Ronaldinho? Won the league, same as Dinho, but Chelsea knocked Barca out in the round of 16 (same round Henry was knocked out in 03 btw, not the first group stage), and Lamps scored loads of goals. If you're gonna say it's coz Dinho was a better player, who performed better, then I agree, but then Henry should've won over Nedved. The gap between Lampard and Dinho is far closer than Henry and Nedved. This just feels like a way to eventually justify the likes of Carvajal winning, or Jorginho getting to the podium coz "winning matters" and falling in line to the PR of clubs like Madrid/Barca. The award should be given to the best performing individual, which was pretty clearly Henry. Henry also had a far better shout in 06 than you give credit for. You play it off like he was Jorginho, just some dude who was dragged along for the ride (Zidane's world cup also majorly overrated btw). Narratives and gimmicks smh.

[@amann7166]

​​@@TerryHenry-sk9yebecause Ronaldinho's 2005 Ballon d'or is complety overrated. He wasn't even in the La Liga Team of the season. And Henry is an all time great, but so are many others, who were on his level: figo, laudrup, rivaldo, stoichkov, and those guys don't get that much recognition today as Henry.

[@TerryHenry-sk9ye]

@@amann7166 I cant speak on Laudrup Rivaldo and Stoichkov, but Figo is not Henry's level.

[@amann7166]

@@TerryHenry-sk9ye I think he is. Nobody at that time tought that Henry's legacy is above Figo's. Henry is very well respected these days, even more so than during his playing days.

[@abdifatahali5234]

i was waiting for pe lesson then one of the students from my year at that tine started screaming is there any united fan here. someone said yh abdi then he told me that ronaldo is leaving man utd,, i nearly cried lol

[@avien9068]

LEWANDOWSKI 2020 ):

[@Soouuize]

You lot are the social media narrative.

[@sjefenjaja3642]

From 4-1 to 5-5. And cr7 should have won the 2018 aswell and that would have been 6-5. Goat 🐐

[@grez367]

8-6😂

[@streyy1740]

Henry 04 stunk up the euros. internationally henry never moved the needle zizou was THE guy

[@asadsuleiman6719]

Henry ahould have won back to back ballon dors,,03 and 04!

[@z3dda]

Lyes dad story killed me.. tevez is already gone 😂

[@mmishaalll]

Never forget when Cristiano Ronaldo got ABSOLOUTELY ROBBED of the 2018 Ballon D'or against Modric, and France Football even had the GUTS to put Lionel Messi at 5TH PLACE behind Modric, Griezmann, and Mbappe. Absoloute disgrace of a podium that year, it was definitely Cristiano at the top and Messi at the 2nd spot, Modric, Griezmann, and Mbappe, weren't even CLOSE to those 2 let alone Cristiano Ronaldo.

[@Jordy4610]

11:05 That's disappointing from the Mastermind champion, game ended 3-2 haha.

[@CJVP99]

Hot take but FIFA POTY/Best is far better and more accurate than the ballon dor ever was

[@MrKillerrrrr]

How can Ribéry win in 2013 when he finished 3rd

[@Al-ji4gd]

Literally by like 1%, did you even look at the voting?

[@JobHans]

But then again he didn't question Messi being ahead of him but outraged on social media against cristiano

[@Axhdib]

Fair play to cam by rattling the arsenal fanbase on X, he had them try to claim he's younger than he actually is 😂

[@CultureCams]

😝

[@FootyLore96]

Lyes brushes by Henry in 06, despite him dragging a VERY poor Arsenal team to a CL final. Their back 4 in that campaign was mostly Eboue, Flamini, Toure and Senderos, Henry contributed to EVERY goal scored in the knockout stages - but no love for that, Henry only came 3rd because he was "present" btw. Best player for France in the final by a MILE, as Zidane had rings ran around him by Pirlo - nah Henry was just some good dude. Idk what Cams is talking about, AT THE TIME Nedved's ballon d'or WAS CONTROVERSIAL. This is verifiable from articles and commentary from then. Zidane winning the FIFA award over Henry was controversial too. By your standards, Ronaldinho SHOULD NOT HAVE WON in 2005 btw. Give it to Lampard or Gerrard. Just lazy lazy takes. "Henry was never better than Dinho or Zidane" zzzzz. Yeah, Zidane, the elite playmaker who couldn't play a through ball, who played in superteams every year with a paltry trophy return, and who was outshone by Del Piero at Juve, and had 1 good season at Madrid. But it's ok coz he shakes his hips on the halfway line and looks elegant. They talk about how Zidane "dragged" France (a team full of all timers in every position was being dragged btw), when ZZ had like 3 good games that tournament, stunk up the the group stages where Vieira was monstrous, and was largely invisible in the final. "Oh but he did a hecking sombrero vs Brazil" (Henry actually scored, and created more danger even in that game).

[@langletprolet8378]

I gotta ask though, if Henry was so clear then why were Nedved won the Balon D'Or by a quite a margin in the votes. It's not a measly point margin like with Messi vs Van Dijk in 2019 or Luis Figo vs Zizou in 2000, but Nedved were the clear winners by the voters from 52 countries. Is it because the Premier League didn't have prestige that now it has in that time? I started following football in 2006, just before this, so this is genuine question.

[@FootyLore96]

@@langletprolet8378 The ballon d'or was voted on by journalists, the FIFA award was voted by captains/managers I think. If you look at the FIFA award, which was equally big back then, Henry came 2nd in that too (lost to Zidane), and Nedved was only 4th. I dont know why tbh, maybe Henry came off as too arrogant for journos. 2004 was controversial too, Henry again came 2nd in the FIFA award to Dinho (who won 0 trophies btw) but only narrowly. I think a huge reason is coz Arsenal was not a massive club, Barca/Madrid/Milan/Juve just had more PR and clout. But there's a reason that Henry's legacy is in another world to Nedved's - he was a FAR better player, and this wishy washy trying to justify it stuff is nonsense imo.

[@jamal1079]

This is not true. Arsenal’s defence carried them to the final not Henry. They literally didn’t concede from the third group stage game till the final. In the QFs, SFs and final - Henry scored one goal in six games.

[@langletprolet8378]

@@FootyLore96 I mean Cams and Lys did say in this that Henry *is* the better player than Nedved. But the argument isn’t about that. These types of awards is about achievements of the year only, and I do think now that I think about it that Nedved have a pretty strong argument for 2003 specifically just like Henry does. It’s the Shevchenko one that, for me, is pretty tough to argue for.

[@FootyLore96]

@@jamal1079 Henry scored and assisted the only 2 goals in the QF vs Juve. He played the defence splitting pass for the pre assist vs Villareal. He got the assist for the only goal vs Barca in the final. You can read that as "1 goal in 6", or 3 decisive g/a in 6 + a pre assist, with a low scoring team. The defence of Flamini, Senderos, Toure, and Eboue did not carry lol. Arsenal played compact, and hoped Henry won them the game. You can upgrade or replace that defence very easily and still make it through, you could not replace the individual brilliance of Henry. Even outside the goal contributions, his hold up play, his threat in behind was excellent and kept the opposition honest.

[@asadsuleiman6719]

Ronaldo would hve certainly won it if he stayed at real in 2018!! Easily and probably 2 more with 2 other champions league trophies! worst decision leaving madrid

[@JobHans]

Yk there's a saying going that leaving early give off a better legacy then waiting too long to become the villain or something in that line

[@riyadmahrez2616]

Why’s cams chatting shit. He’s like 23, so he had a phone at 8? Bro thinks he’s Lebron

[@GGM28]

He isn't 23😂

[@riyadmahrez2616]

@@GGM28 he did his gcses in 2017

[@JobHans]

Do plus 20 and your correct

[@CultureCams]

@@riyadmahrez2616😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@daniell4760]

First

[@michaelhodges2391]

Rodri the greatest robbery in the history of the sport. The Ballon d'Or means next to nothing now