In 1989, Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano became the only player in history to receive the Super Ballon d'Or, beating Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini to be named the best player of the previous 30 years. With the 40th anniversary of that landmark falling in 2029, the prospect of the honour being awarded a second time, to the finest player of the last four decades, is now being widely debated. GiveMeSport has drawn up a ranking of the 15 leading candidates. Kylian Mbappe sits 15th with 450 goals in 591 matches, while Sergio Ramos is 14th with 148 goals in 1,030 matches and four Champions League titles. Also on the list are 2007 Ballon d'Or winner Kaka in 13th, 2022 winner Karim Benzema in 12th and Thierry Henry in 11th.
Opinions are divided. Xavi opens the top 10 with 980 matches and 240 assists, while ninth place goes to Luka Modric, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner and a six-time Champions League champion. Gianluigi Buffon is eighth with 1,115 matches and 506 clean sheets, Andres Iniesta is seventh, and Paolo Maldini, who won Europe's premier club competition in three different decades, is sixth. At the very top, the battle between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo reaches its peak.
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