The best player to have never won Ballon D'or?

[TheHowieLama]

Gregorz Lato was boss that tournament

[deiseach]

I only vaguely remember 82, so 86 was my real first World Cup. This explains the Maradona love throughout the thread. All the talk of this genius we were going to see. He couldn't possibly be that good, could he? No - he was even better. A bit like the pizza delivery man who saw my Liverpool shirt and said "ah Liverpool. I support Ajax. Suarez is going to be great for you!" 

[General Dryness]

I think the 82 world cup was my favourite.  9 years old and watching players with names like Blokhin, Lato and Boniek for the first time.  Ace. 

 

Fuck Paulo Rossi as well, have never forgiven him for putting Brazil out that year. 

 

A particular favourite of ours was Roberto Lopez Ufarte of Spain.

[KMD7]

Gregorz Lato was boss that tournament

 

He was indeed.  Was ace playing footy after watching a match.  I think it was that world cup that he scored (or almost scored, I cant remember exactly) from a diving header or something and all us lads were trying to copy it

 

I only vaguely remember 82, so 86 was my real first World Cup. This explains the Maradona love throughout the thread. All the talk of this genius we were going to see. He couldn't possibly be that good, could he? No - he was even better. A bit like the pizza delivery man who saw my Liverpool shirt and said "ah Liverpool. I support Ajax. Suarez is going to be great for you!" 

 

Nail on head re Maradona.  Kids today are spoilt with Messi and Suarez being so visible now on TV.  I think watching Maradona in 86 was probably my favourite ever non LFC moment.  People go on about the match against England but my favourite was the match and goals he scored against Belgium in the semi final.  Different class.

 

The one memory I have of the 78 world cup was of Luque looking ace but that's about it.

[Baltar]

Maradona. End thread

Don't think he was eligible since in those days the award was only given to European players. They changed in the 90s I think to allow non-Europeans playing in Europe to participate.

[Total Longo]

A particular favourite of ours was Roberto Lopez Ufarte of Spain.

 

Me and my mate Chris dined out on that for years. Best Panini sticker ever.

[Total Longo]

Was Weah the first non-European to win it?

[Elite]

John Stones

[VladimirIlyich]

Arie Hahn and Robbie Rensenbrink of Holland. Got to say that even though he played for the mancs,Arnold Muhren was a classy Dutch player. Frankie Van Der Elst of Belgium was decent too.

[magicrat]

Nuttall on hearing the news that he didn't win the Ballon D'or

Something else he will need to amend on his CV

 

[Curly]

Steven Caulker

[3 Stacks]

Samir Nasri.

[Shankly]

Tony Hibbert

[KMD7]

Lee Trundle