Franck Ribéry and the 2013 Ballon d’Or: A Stolen Dream or Fair Verdict?
The Ballon d'Or has always been one of the most anticipated awards at the end of each season. In 2025, the race for the trophy is filled with strong contenders, creating debates and excitement across the football world. However, if there’s one edition that continues to fuel controversy more than a decade later, it’s the 2013 award. That year, Franck Ribéry had a dream season with Bayern Munich, winning every possible title, yet the trophy ultimately went to Cristiano Ronaldo. Was it a fair decision, or was it one of the greatest injustices in the history of the award?
Ribéry's numbers in 2013 were pretty good. In 43 matches with Bayern Munich, he scored 11 goals and provided 23 assists, establishing himself as a key piece in the Bavarian team's historic season. Beyond the statistics, his impact on the pitch was decisive, always stepping up in crucial moments. His performance earned him the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, solidifying his status as the standout footballer of the year. On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo had a spectacular individual campaign, scoring 66 goals in 56 matches, though he didn’t lift any major trophies. Lionel Messi, the other finalist, scored 45 goals in 47 appearances, but injuries bothered him at the end, and Barcelona failed to win either the Champions League or La Liga. With these facts on the table, many believe Ribéry had the perfect combination of individual and collective success to win the Ballon d'Or.
One of the most controversial aspects of that vote was FIFA's decision to extend the voting deadline, reportedly following Cristiano Ronaldo's unforgettable performance against Sweden in the World Cup Playoff, where he scored a hat-trick. Until the original closing date, Ribéry was leading the vote. However, with the extension, Ronaldo received a significant number of votes that allowed him to claim the award. Ribéry himself has expressed his frustration with this decision, stating that if the voting had closed on the original date, he would have won.
Beyond the numbers and trophies, the 2013 Ballon d'Or controversy reflects an intense debate about the criteria for selecting the award's winner. Should individual performance be prioritized over team success? Or should the player who contributed the most to winning titles take the prize? In other editions, players like Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 or Luka Modrić in 2018 won the award primarily for their achievements with their teams, but in Ribéry's case, these merits seemed insufficient, making this case weird in the eyes of everyone.
Despite not winning the Ballon d'Or, Franck Ribéry remains a legend in Bayern Munich's history and one of the most brilliant wingers of his generation. Although the award eluded him, his 2013 season is in the memories of football fans. More than 10 years later, the debate remains open: was he the victim of an injustice? Perhaps, with the current voting system, the result might have been different. However, what no one can deny is that in that year, Ribéry stood among the greatest, and for many, he was the best footballer in the world.
