Can You Identify Every Ballon d'Or Top Three That Excluded Messi and Ronaldo?

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo exchanged Ballon d'Or titles repeatedly throughout a decade, cementing their legacies as the two greatest footballers to ever play the game. But what about those who finished just below them in the standings for the sport's most coveted individual honor? Think you can identify the top finishers beyond Messi and Ronaldo from 2007 to 2025? See if you can name them all before time runs out.

So, how did you fare? It's difficult to picture the award without Messi and Ronaldo, given their stranglehold on the sport for nearly two decades. If you enjoyed this quiz and want another challenge, why not take a shot at one of the quizzes below?

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The Ballon d'Or Winners That Never Were

Xavi: For three consecutive years, Xavi had to settle for third place in the Ballon d'Or standings, unable to surpass Ronaldo or Messi in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The ever-modest Barcelona icon eventually acknowledged he wasn't superior to either of the all-time greats, yet he still merited the "Ballon de Bronze" for being one of the finest midfield conductors in football history.

Andrés Iniesta: Where Xavi goes, Iniesta follows. The Spaniard was the sole player during the era of Messi and Ronaldo's dominance to secure a runner-up finish, which arrived in 2010 after he netted the World Cup-winning goal for Spain. A genuine wizard, Iniesta glided across the pitch with a vision—and a trophy collection—that most players can only dream of.

Franck Ribéry: Guiding Bayern Munich to the Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal treble in 2013 wasn't sufficient for Ribéry to claim the Ballon d'Or; in fact, it wasn't even enough to finish as the runner-up. The iron grip Ronaldo and Messi held over the award denied the Frenchman the prize that many still believe he rightfully deserved.

Neymar: Still the costliest transfer in football history, Neymar anchored the fearsome "MSN" attacking trio at Barcelona, helping the club dominate Spain and Europe with his flair, dribbling ability and lethal right foot. He also captained Brazil for over a decade, becoming the Seleção's all-time top scorer. Yet his contributions for both club and country only ever yielded two third-place finishes.