Ballon d’Or winners and the top 3 players from 2000 to 2018

The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual award in world football.

Prior to Luka Modric winning last year’s gong, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s global dominance saw the pair win the previous 10 between them (five each).

Looking ahead to the 2019 awards ceremony, Messi is primed to pick up a sixth title ahead of Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.

The Dutchman has become an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s side since his move from Southampton in January 2018, helping them to win a sixth Champions League crown.

He was, however, pipped to the FIFA Best Men’s Player accolade by the Barcelona star in September, with the same result expected again this time around.

Judged by a panel of journalists, the Ballon d’Or ran in conjunction with FIFA from 2010 until 2015, when the governing body split to create its own – and much less prestigious – Best Player award.

But what was the football world like before Ronaldo and Messi took over? That’s what talkSPORT.com is looking at, stretching back to 2000.

Ballon d’Or 2000

1. Luis Figo (Barcelona and Real Madrid)

2. Zinedine Zidane (Juventus)

3. Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan)

Ballon d’Or 2001

1. Michael Owen (Liverpool)

2. Raul (Real Madrid)

3. Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich)

Ballon d’Or 2002

1. Ronaldo (Inter Milan and Real Madrid)

2. Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid)

3. Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich)

Ballon d’Or 2003

1. Pavel Nedved (Juventus)

2. Thierry Henry (Arsenal)

3. Paolo Maldini (AC Milan)

Ballon d’Or 2004

1. Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan)

2. Deco (Porto and Barcelona)

3. Ronaldinho (Barcelona)

Ballon d’Or 2005

1. Ronaldinho (Barcelona)

2. Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

3. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

Ballon d’Or 2006

1. Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus and Real Madrid)

2. Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)

3. Thierry Henry (Arsenal)

Ballon d’Or 2007

1. Kaka (AC Milan)

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

3. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Ballon d’Or 2008

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

3. Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

Ballon d’Or 2009

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United and Real Madrid)

3. Xavi (Barcelona)

Ballon d’Or 2010

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

2. Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)

3. Xavi (Barcelona)

Ballon d’Or 2011

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

3. Xavi (Barcelona)

Ballon d’Or 2012

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

3. Xavi (Barcelona)

Ballon d’Or 2013

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

3. Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)

Ballon d’Or 2014

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

3. Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)

Ballon d’Or 2015

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

3. Neymar (Barcelona)

Ballon d’Or 2016

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

3. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)

Ballon d’Or 2017

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

3. Neymar (Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain)

Ballon d’Or 2018

1. Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)

3. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)