When was last instance when Champions League winner didn't win Ballon d'Or?

Rodri is reported to be the confirmed 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.

According to EFE, Fabrizio Romano, and Marca, after knowing that the Brazilian will not be named the best player of the previous season, neither Vinícius Junior nor the other Real Madrid award candidates will attend this Monday’s Ballon d’Or presentation.

After learning of this, the Real Madrid group, which was scheduled to depart for Paris early in the afternoon, cancelled their trip.

Vinícius was considered the front-runner to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or award because of his 24 goals and 11 assists in 39 games, which included a double in the Champions League (where he scored in the final) and La Liga. The club, however, claims he will not be given the honour.

Real Madrid will not attend the celebration in Paris because, according to information the club sent EFE, they believe it is disrespectful that Vinícius and Dani Carvajal are not recognized as winners under the award criteria.

In addition to Vinícius and Carvajal, Jude Bellingham, Fede Valverde, Antonio Rüdiger, and Toni Kroos—who will retire following Euro 2024—were all contenders for the Ballon d’Or.

With the latest confirmation that Rodri of Manchester City is the winner to lead Spain to the Euro 2024 and City to the fourth Premier League title. While the Brazilian who won the Champions League and the league title with Real isn’t the actual winner takes back to when was the last time a Champions League winner didn’t win the award.

When was the last time a Champions League winner didn’t win the Ballon d’Or?

The last such example is of Erling Haaland. During the 2022-23 season, Haaland helped his side win the treble (Premier League, FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League). But the Ballon d’Or award for the season was given to Lionel Messi.

Another example is Virgil van Dijk had an excellent season with Liverpool in 2019 when he led the Reds to the Champions League victory.

In 2018–19, Van Dijk played all 50 of the Reds’ Premier League and European games and even contributed to ten goals. As a result, he was strongly favoured to become just the fourth defender to be awarded the Ballon d’Or, but Messi defeated the Dutchman by a mere seven votes.

Although the Argentina international did amass 51 goals and 22 assists for Barcelona, Liverpool’s spectacular Champions League elimination of the Spanish team gave Klopp every reason to be dissatisfied with his star defender not winning the award.

“The decision is made by journalists, and that’s how they see it,” he said. “I see it slightly different, and so do a lot of people. I cannot remember a more impressive season for a defender, ever.”

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