Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated their era of football.

Since Ronaldo first claimed the Ballon d'Or in 2008 the duo have swept all before them year after year.

And as we sit here looking back in 2022, the two can lay claim to a monumental 12 Ballon d'Or awards between them.

Such is their dominance that Luka Modric's single Ballon d'Or victory in 2018 remains the only occasion any other player has been able to win prize since they first started doing the business.

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However, as the 2022 ceremony approaches, it looks like we might finally have another new winner in the form of Karim Benzema.

The Frenchman is a heavy favourite after enjoying a stellar 2021/22 campaign. A season in which he was instrumental in leading Real Madrid to the La Liga and Champions League.

Karim Benzema Real Madrid
MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 03: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid holds the UEFA Champions League trophy prior to the LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and Real Betis at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 03, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

But whilst it was undoubtedly a special year for Benzema, you can bet that a few players who enjoyed equally impressive campaigns, however, were ultimately outshone by the might of Messi or the undeniability of Ronaldo, will be looking on enviously.

Who do we speak of? Well, a graphic shared via Reddit has outlined which player would have won the Ballon d'Or each year between 2008-2021 if Messi and Ronaldo were excluded from the picture.

The player stated would have come second or third in the voting behind the stars and therefore, would technically have claimed the prize should we discount the duo.

Ballon d'Or winners 2008-2021 with no Messi or Ronaldo

2008: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
2009: Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona)
2010: Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)
2011: Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona)
2012: Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)
2013: Franck Ribery (Bayern)
2014: Manuel Neuer (Bayern)
2015: Neymar Jr (Barcelona)
2016: Antoine Griezmann (Atletico)
2017: Neymar Jr (Barcelona)
2018: Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
2019: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
2021: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern)

Interestingly, then, no player would have managed to win the award on more than two occasions, with Xavi, Iniesta and Neymar all claiming the prize twice.

Xavi and Iniesta
BARCELONA, SPAIN - JANUARY 12: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona (C) holds the Ballon d'Or trophy flanked by his teammates Andres Iniesta (L) and Xavi Hermandez prior the Copa del Rey quarter final first leg match FC Barcelona and Betis at Camp Nou on January 12, 2011 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Bayern would have seen three separate players awarded the gong, one of whom would have been the first goalkeeper to receive the tag of world's best since Lev Yashin in 1963.

And we also would have seen Liverpool's Van Dijk become the first centre back since Fabio Cannavaro to do that, too.

The Dutchman had been imperious all season as he guided the Reds to their first Champions League triumph in 14 years. Another unfortunate casualty of Messi's brilliance.

Van Dijk Liverpool

It really does seem a crime that none of these era-defining stars got their opportunity to be appreciated the way they maybe should have been.

Any other era, and things would have been different. But that's just testament to the two icons that have ruled the early 21st century.

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