Each year, the Golden Ball is accompanied by its share of controversies. If the rank of Sadio Mané in 2019 had shocked the football planet, the award had also sparked a huge outcry in 2013. Author of an exceptional season with Bayern Munich at the time, Frank Ribéry had to be content with a third place on the podium.
The former French international had believed it hard as iron. It is true that he had had a magnificent season with Bayern Munich, notably winning all the trophies possible with the Bavarians (treble C1 – championship – Cup). However, he finished third in the standings behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
A place that still remains across his throat years later. ‘‘It was more than a disappointment, it was the worst injustice of my career. Not just for me but for a lot of people. I was the best that year and finished third. I had nothing to envy Messi and Ronaldo that year. I say this with all the humility possible because it is the truth. “, commented the “Kaiser”.
For the record, the former Bavarian had obtained 23% of the votes against 24 and 27% respectively for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
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