Before the rise of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, if someone scored 20 goals, most people would conclude that they’d had an outstanding season.

However, the two global icons have taken the game of football to a completely different level with their consistency, success, desire to be the best and record-breaking goalscoring feats.

The two greatest players of a generation have deservedly won the past nine Ballon d’Or’s between them, but what can be said about the players who’ve been named as the third best player in the world?

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Let’s take a look at the world-class stars who ended up behind either Ronaldo or Messi (in most cases, both), from 2008 all the way to December 12, 2016, the day on which Cristiano picked up the last award.

Fernando Torres (2008)

As Cristiano won his first Ballon d’Or at Manchester United in 2008, Fernando Torres was establishing himself at Liverpool as undoubtedly the most gifted number nine in world football.

The Anfield hero came third with 179 votes, compared to Messi’s 281 and Ronaldo’s 446, but 81 goals in 142 matches for the Reds proves just how deadly he used to be.

Torres has never reached those heights again since leaving Liverpool in 2011, enduring disappointing spells at Chelsea, after a £50 million move, and AC Milan.

That said, he returned to his beloved Atletico Madrid in 2015, and the 33-year-old has scored 25 times under Diego Simeone.

Xavi (2009-2011)

Xavi has surely got to be the unluckiest person when it comes to the Ballon d’Or, seeing as he ranked third three times in a row from 2009 to 2011.

The ex-Barcelona captain, who underpinned Spain’s total footballing dominance a few years ago, only received 6.17% less votes than his teammate and eventual winner Messi in 2010.

After the 2011 award ceremony, Xavi went on to win six more trophies at the Nou Camp, as well as Euro 2012 with his country, before joining Al Sadd in 2015.

The 37-year-old still plays for the Qatari club, but 85 goals, over 180 assists and a countless number of midfield masterclasses in 767 matches for Barca mean he’ll forever be a Catalan legend.

Andres Iniesta (2012)

Not only was Andres Iniesta third in 2012, but he also finished a very close second in 2010, where there was the special scenario of all three nominees coming from the same team.

Iniesta has spent his entire career at Barcelona, making 626 appearances, and, having picked up 31 trophies thus far, he is the most successful Spanish player in history.

The midfielder was named Man of the Match in both the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 finals, and since his last Ballon d’Or top-three finish, the 32-year-old has gone on to win ten trophies.

The technical wizard has captained Barca since Xavi left, and when another ex-teammate Simao gave him his own Ballon d’Or last month, it was a perfect reminder of Iniesta’s pure magnificence.

Franck Ribery (2013)

The 2013 Ballon d’Or was surely one of the closest of all-time – Cristiano winning with 27.99% of the votes, to Messi’s 24.72% and Franck Ribery’s 23.36%.

The Frenchman was at his best across the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons, scoring 27 goals for Bayern Munich and frightening defences with his pace, directness and trickery.

He won eight trophies in that period, including the Champions League, and developed a devastating understanding with his full-back David Alaba and fellow wing wizard Arjen Robben.

Multiple long-term injuries have severely limited his minutes in recent years, and he decided to retire from international football in 2014 after missing the World Cup.

That said, Ribery has been a star for the German champions since he moved there back in 2007, registering 110 goals in 350 games – impressive numbers for a winger.

The 34-year-old has been a reliable figure for Carlo Ancelotti and has already played more times this term than he managed in the two previous campaigns, as he approaches the end of his tenth year in Bavaria.

Manuel Neuer (2014)

Cristiano was 2014’s clear winner, but the fact that Manuel Neuer was a mere 0.04% behind Messi in terms of votes shows just how exceptional the German’s development has been.

Bayern Munich’s number one revolutionised what it meant to be a goalkeeper with his sweeper-keeping antics and was an ever-present as Germany won the World Cup in Brazil.

Neuer comes out on top in most one-on-one situations, his diving, reflexes and distribution skills are all second to none and no one comes close to him regarding the fewest goals conceded per game ratio.

He has been the UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year in five of the last six years and his consistency is up there with Messi and Ronaldo - playing at least 50 games in all of his five full seasons at Munich.

Since making the Ballon d’Or top 3, Neuer has won four more trophies with Bayern, and the 31-year-old remains the best shot-stopper in the world to this day.

Neymar (2015)

At just 23, Neymar finished in third place for the 2015 Ballon d’Or, with Ronaldo in second and his good friend Leo Messi winning with a massive 41.33% of the votes.

The skilful forward, who is already Brazil’s fourth-highest scorer of all-time, is one third of the most phenomenal attacking trio we’ve seen in recent memory, alongside Messi and Luis Suarez.

Having scored 100 times in 181 matches, Neymar recently reached a century of goals for Barcelona in less time than Messi, and last summer he captained his country to an emotional Olympic Gold.

The 25-year-old star has already won La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey, and is enjoying arguably the most productive season of his career, with 15 goals and 18 assists in 40 games.

His all-round game has improved so much, and many believe Neymar will become the world’s very best once Messi and Cristiano slow down. In fact, some people already think he is.

Antoine Griezmann (2016)

Lastly, we have the hugely talented Antoine Griezmann, who got 198 votes in the last Ballon d’Or, compared to 316 for Messi and 745 for Euro 2016 winning captain Ronaldo.

The Frenchman has just got better and better since joining Atletico Madrid from Real Sociedad in 2014, and he’s now producing top-class displays for both club and country.

Not only did Griezmann fire Atletico to the 2016 Champions League final, but he also starred in France’s run to the Euro 2016 final, finishing as the Player of the Tournament and the top goalscorer.

With goal tallies of 25, 32 and 25 (and counting) in his three seasons at Atleti, you can see why the 26-year-old is now classed as one of European football’s most lethal attackers.

It’s stars like Griezmann, Gareth Bale, Paulo Dybala, Eden Hazard and Neymar who are expected to take over from Messi and Ronaldo in the future and lead the modern game into a new era.

Do YOU think any of these superstars deserved to win the Ballon d'Or at any time? Be sure to have YOUR say in the comments box below!