"He wasn't just a player; he was the player" - When France Football apologised to Barcelona legend for not giving him Ballon d'Or
Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta is widely considered one of the many world-class footballers of his generation to have never won the coveted Ballon d'Or. The Spaniard is considered one of the greatest midfielders ever and was key to both Barca and Spain's success during his playing days.
The closest Iniesta came to winning the Ballon d'Or was in 2010, when he finished second behind former teammate Lionel Messi. The Spaniard won the FIFA World Cup with Spain that year, scoring the winning goal in extra time against the Netherlands in the final. In 2012, Iniesta ranked third in the Ballon d'Or rankings after winning his second consecutive Euros with La Roja.
Shortly before Andres Iniesta had left Barcelona in the summer of 2018, France Football editor Pascal Ferre, in April, publicly apologised to the Spaniard for never being able to award the Ballon d'Or to him. He wrote:
"Forgive us, Andres. For us, he wasn't just a player. He was the player. His sacrifices for the team ultimately deprived him of greater individual recognition."
The editor had hoped that Iniesta could shine at the 2018 World Cup to win the prestigious award at that time. He added:
"Of all the absences on the list of Ballon d'Or winners, his is particularly painful. We can only hope he has an special campaign at the World Cup in Russia and repair this democratic anomaly."
Despite Ferre's regrets, Spain didn't fare well at the 2018 World Cup, as they bowed out of the competition following a 4-3 loss to Russia on penalties in the Round of 16. That same year, the Spaniard bid farewell to his boyhood club and moved to Japanese side Vissel Kobe before shifting to his current club Emirates in 2023.
Iniesta's journey with La Blaugrana began in 1996 when he joined the Barca youth team. Rising through the ranks of La Masia, Iniesta made his senior team debut in 2002 and spent most of his senior career at the Camp Nou before leaving in 2018. The Spaniard scored 57 goals and recorded 135 assists in 674 appearances for them across competitions.
During his peak, Iniesta formed one of the greatest midfield trios of all time with teammates Xavi and Sergio Busquets at Barca. The midfield trio was also significant to Spain's success, as they won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 Euros.
Barcelona have the joint-most men's Ballon d'Or winners alongside Real Madrid
Barcelona remain the club with the most Ballon d'Or men's winners alongside Real Madrid. Six Blaugrana players have accounted for 12 Ballon d'Or awards for the club. Los Blancos also have 12 winners but from eight players.
Apart from six-time winner Messi, other Blaugrana legends to have won the award are Luis Suarez (1960), Johan Cruyff (1973, 1974), Hristo Stoichkov (1994), Rivaldo (1999) and Ronaldinho (2005).
Half of Barca's 12 Ballon d'Or awards come from Messi, who has dominated the prestigious award's rankings since 2008 alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi's first win came in 2009, followed by three more in the next three years. The Argentine won his fifth in 2015, followed by his next in 2019. Messi's last two Ballon d'Or wins came in 2021 and 2023, after he left Barcelona.
It's pertinent to note that Messi is also the last Barcelona player to claim the prestigious award.