If you were to use a character in a gangster movie, Franck Riberéry would be high on the casting list. However, the Frenchman had more than enough to shine on the pitch. With Bayern Munich supporters, a legend forever. Twelve years after he had his best season, the 41-year-old believes he was still cheated when the Ballon d’Or was to be awarded.
The award went to Ronaldo, with Lionel Messi in second place. This still hangs over Ribéry like a dark cloud, an award he is still convinced he deserved.
That year, the Bayern Munich player was named the best player in Europe by UEFA and stood as the heavy favorite to win the Ballon d’Or in 2013. In the end, Ronaldo received 27.99 percent of the votes, Messi and Ribéry received 24.72 and 23.36 respectively.
“I’m still looking for the explanation. I will never understand why the deadline for the vote was postponed by more than two weeks. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo always showed me respect. They knew I was sitting at their table. In all humility, in 2013 I had nothing to envy them for,” Franck Ribéry says according to L’Equipe.
