Despite his stunning performances during his time at Bayern Munich, Franck Ribery was unable to secure the Ballon d’Or. FIFA decided to extend the voting deadline because of poor response from eligible voters. Ribery, the bookies’ favorite, was unable to come up with the required number of votes to take home the prize. He finished second to Ronaldo, and 78 votes behind Barcelona superstar Messi. Ribery, who will be leaving Bayern at the end of the season, is disappointed with the decision.
The controversy surrounding Ribery has caused many people to question the Ballon d’Or and its purpose. It is supposed to be a vote for the world’s best player, but it has become widely perceived as a popularity contest instead of a sports award. Many people have come to see Ribery as more of a personality than a great player.
Ribery remains disappointed with the decision not to award him the Ballon d’Or in 2013. Although he had an important role in winning the treble with Bayern Munich, he finished third behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ribery also won the UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich.
