No Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi in the top three? Thiago Silva to win? Ballon d’Or’s most suspicious and ridiculous votes

Now that the tears have been shed and the burgundy suits have been shelved for this year’s Ballon d’Or, Metro has decided to cast a dubious eye over the votes which saw Cristiano Ronaldo crowned as the world’s best player.

Teary: Cristiano Ronaldo holds his trophy after being awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2013

While not many could begrudge the Portuguese winger his crown after an exceptional 2013, it seems his 66 goals in 56 games have failed to win over some of his fellow peers…

We’re all for difference of opinion, but here are the most eyebrow-raising selections we’ve picked out from the players’ voting ballot:

Neither favourite for the award voted for the other

 

 

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 Tactical – shamelessly omitting major rivals to boost their own/team-mate’s chances
Lionel Messi (Argentina): Iniesta, Xavi, Neymar
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): Falcao, Bale, Özil
Iker Casillas (Spain): Ronaldo, Ribéry, Robben
Hugo Lloris (France): Ribéry, Neuer, Bale

                        Buffon voted for countryman and fellow Juve team-mate Andrea Pirlo

Biased – no agenda, just plugging their mates
Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon): Yaya Touré, Messi, Hazard
Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire): Yaya Touré, Messi, Ronaldo
Gianluigi Buffon (Italy): Pirlo, Ronaldo, Messi
Ashley Williams (Wales): Bale, Xavi, Ronaldo
          Best in the world? Seriously?! Madagascar captain voted for Paris Saint-Germain’s Thiago Silva

Ridiculous – what were you thinking?
Debebe Gebreyes (Ethiopia): Xavi, Pirlo, Müller
Jaba Kankava (Georgia): Iniesta, Pirlo, Cavani
Tahina Randrianarisoa (Madagascar): Thiago Silva, Bale, Messi
Ivan Khan (Mozambique): Lahm, Ronaldo, Lewandowski