Alejandro Garnacho names 3 best players who deserved to win Ballon d'Or during their careers
Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho named three players who deserved to win the Ballon d'Or but didn't. He picked Neymar, Andres Iniesta, and Antoine Griezmann.
Garnacho, who finished sixth in the Kopa Trophy rankings, was asked to name three players who should've won the Ballon d'Or but didn't. He said (via B/R Football):
"Neymar, of course. Griezmann as well and Iniesta."
Neymar is widely considered one of the best players of his generation. He plied his trade for the likes of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), winning numerous trophies. The Al-Hilal forward is also Brazil's all-time top scorer with 79 goals and 59 assists in 128 games.
Meanwhile, Andres Iniesta is widely considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time. The Spaniard, who announced his retirement in October 2024, played for the likes of Barcelona and Vissel Kobe. He won four UEFA Champions League and nine LaLiga titles, among other honors. He also scored in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final to help Spain lift the trophy.
Finally, Antoine Griezmann has been a key player for Atletico Madrid and France over the years. He has won one UEFA Europa League and one UEFA Supercup, among other honors. He also played a key role in helping France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Alejandro Garnacho finished joint 6th in Kopa Trophy at Ballon d'Or ceremony
The Kopa Trophy is awarded to the best U21 in the world for the stipulated season. At the Ballon d'Or 2024 ceremony, Lamine Yamal was announced as the winner of the award this year. The 17-year-old became the youngest-ever player to win the Kopa Trophy after a stellar 2023-24 campaign with Spain.
Real Madrid star Arda Guler finished second in the rankings while Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo completed the top three. Manchester City's Savinho, who had an excellent 2023-24 season with Girona, was fourth while Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi finished fifth.
Alejandro Garnacho finished sixth in the rankings after a decent individual 2023-24 season with Manchester United. He scored 10 goals and provided five assists in 50 games across competitions, including his goal in their FA Cup final win over Manchester City.
Garnacho shared the sixth spot with Joao Neves, who had a brilliant season with Benfica, which saw him join Paris Saint-Germain in the summer. PSG's Warren Zaire-Emery, Bayern Munich's Mathys Tel and Red Bull Salzburg's Karim Konate all finished joint-eighth to complete the Top 10.