In 2009, the Ballon d'Or top ten read as follows: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Samuel Eto'o, Kaka, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba and Steven Gerrard. A list stacked full of talented players that would all have feasibly been awarded the Golden Ball during their careers if it weren't for the dominance of the first two players listed.
Fast forward 15 years later, and the Ballon d'Or has lost its shine. The 2024 ceremony proved that there's a serious derth of talent right now in world football. Where coaching methods and tactics have prevailed, individual brilliance and spontaneity have been quashed.
