Top 5 players who shared the Ballon d'Or podium with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
Since 2007, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have taken over the football world, playing at a level that is superior to everyone else. Breaking records and setting new ones every season, the duo has maintained a consistent level of performance with their competitiveness, leading their teams to glory season after season.
Trophies, records and fame have defined their glorious careers. They maintain a level of consistency that has never been witnessed in the game's history, scoring 40, 50 or 60+ goals consistently every season is quite unbelievable. They have so far shared 9 Ballon d'Or awards among them and remain heavy favourites to pick up the award again.
With their astonishing dominance of the Ballon d'Or awards over the past few years, it is a remarkable achievement for anyone who comes close to their level to share the podium with them. Therefore we take a look at the top 5 players who have shared the podium with them in the Ballon d'Or in recent years.
#5 Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann is one of the finest strikers in the world currently. His ability to score goals can only be matched by few players in the current era. He performed at the highest level both for the Franch National team and his club, Atletico Madrid.
The Atletico Madrid hero is the last man to share the Ballon d'Or podium with Messi and Ronaldo when he came third at the Ballon d'Or gala in 2016. That season, he led his club to the final of the UEFA Champions League.
He also inspired his National team to the final of the European Cup, claiming the UEFA Euro Adidas Golden Boot with 6 goals in the competition.