Who was robbed of the Ballon d'Or in 2013?

The Year Franck Ribéry Was Robbed of the Ballon d’Or

2013 was supposed to be Franck Ribéry’s year. At 30, he was at the peak of his powers, orchestrating one of the most dominant seasons in European football history. With 22 goals and 18 assists, Ribéry was the driving force behind Bayern Munich’s historic treble: the Champions League, Bundesliga, and DFB-Pokal. They’d also go on to win the UEFA Super Cup, cementing their reign as Europe’s finest.

Yet, when it came time to award the Ballon d’Or, Ribéry’s name was absent from the podium. Instead, it was Cristiano Ronaldo who lifted the trophy—his second at the time—despite not winning a single major title with Real Madrid that year. Lionel Messi, ever-present in the conversation, finished second. Ribéry, who many considered the heartbeat of the best team on the continent, was left empty-handed.

It wasn’t just stats or silverware that made Ribéry’s snub sting—it was influence. His pace, vision, and relentless work rate redefined what a winger could be. He was the engine of a Bayern side that dismantled Europe’s elite, including a crushing 7–0 aggregate win over Barcelona in the semifinals. Jupp Heynckes’ team played with a cohesion and dominance rarely seen, and Ribéry was at its core.

In hindsight, many fans, pundits, and even fellow professionals believe justice was denied. “He deserved it,” Zinedine Zidane said in a 2014 interview. “When you watch the games, you see who made the difference.” For a player who often shunned the spotlight, 2013 was Franck Ribéry’s masterpiece—one that history remembers, even if the award didn’t.