Can you win the Ballon d'Or without winning the World Cup? | OneFootball

A World Cup triumph often weighs heavily in Ballon d'Or voting, yet a handful of stars have still claimed the award in World Cup years without lifting the trophy. L'Équipe notes that since eligibility widened in 1995, only Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric have managed it.

There is an earlier exception. Before that reform, Johan Cruyff was the only European crowned in a World Cup year won by another nation, a precedent that still offers hope to Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé.

West Germany won a second World Cup, 20 years after the Miracle of Bern, but votes split between Franz Beckenbauer, Paul Breitner and Gerd Müller. Cruyff, the Netherlands captain and emblem of Rinus Michels’ total football, edged them to a third Ballon d'Or after joining Barcelona.

Spain lifted a first World Cup two years after the Euro, their collective style led by Barcelona mainstays Xavi and Andres Iniesta. With votes scattered among La Roja's leaders, Messi took a second straight Ballon d'Or despite Argentina going out in the quarter-finals.

Germany beat Argentina in the final after routing the hosts 7-1 in the semi-finals. With only Manuel Neuer truly standing out for the champions, Ronaldo prevailed despite Portugal’s group-stage exit, his Real Madrid season bringing the Champions League, the Copa del Rey and 61 goals in 60 games.

Croatia lost the Moscow final to France 4-2, yet Modric, an outsider, won the Ballon d'Or. He benefited from French votes splitting across Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé and Raphaël Varane, and from an exceptional year with Real Madrid.

Source: L'Équipe