Which of the following footballing legends had never won the prestigious Ballon d'Or Award?
- Luca Modric
- Ricardo Kaka
- Paolo Maldini
- Pavel Nedvěd
- Andriy Shevchenko
The Correct Option is C
Approach Solution - 1
To determine which of the given footballing legends never won the Ballon d'Or Award, let's examine each player's achievements:
- Luka Modric: Luka Modric, a Croatian midfielder, won the Ballon d'Or in 2018 for his outstanding performances with both Real Madrid and the Croatian national team.
- Ricardo Kaka: This former Brazilian attacking midfielder won the Ballon d'Or in 2007 after his successful season with AC Milan, where he played a crucial role in their UEFA Champions League victory.
- Paolo Maldini: Paolo Maldini, an Italian defender known for his exceptional career at AC Milan and the Italian national team, never won the Ballon d'Or. Despite being one of the greatest defenders, the award usually favors attacking players.
- Pavel Nedvěd: Pavel Nedvěd, a former Czech midfielder, won the Ballon d'Or in 2003 while playing for Juventus, recognized for his impressive performances during that year.
- Andriy Shevchenko: The Ukrainian striker won the Ballon d'Or in 2004 following his prolific goal-scoring season with AC Milan.
Based on the analysis above, the footballing legend who never won the Ballon d'Or is Paolo Maldini. Although he had an illustrious career, the nature of the award often leans towards players with offensive roles and contributions.
Approach Solution -2
To determine which of the legendary football players listed has never won the Ballon d'Or, we first consider the achievements of each individual:
- Luca Modric: Won the Ballon d'Or in 2018, breaking the Messi-Ronaldo dominance.
- Ricardo Kaka: Secured the Ballon d'Or in 2007 after an impressive season with AC Milan.
- Paolo Maldini: Renowned for his exceptional defensive skills, but despite his illustrious career, he never won the Ballon d'Or.
- Pavel Nedvěd: Claimed the Ballon d'Or in 2003 due to his remarkable performance with Juventus.
- Andriy Shevchenko: Awarded the Ballon d'Or in 2004 after impressing at AC Milan.
Analyzing their records, Paolo Maldini stands out as the only football legend listed who never captured the Ballon d'Or award.
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Indian Chess recorded yet another great moment on Monday, as Divya Deshmukh won the Women’s World Cup in the Georgian city of Batumi. In the final, the 19-year-old defeated fellow-Indian Koneru Humpy in the tiebreakers. While Humpy contesting the final wasn’t much of a surprise—she is the World No. 5 and has been one of the best female players for the last couple of decades—not many would have anticipated Divya’s stunning show. But, given her obvious talent and the way she has been playing for the past two years, it didn’t come as a big surprise. By winning the World Cup, one of the biggest events organized by the world chess governing body FIDE, Divya also achieved another significant milestone. She became India’s 88th Grandmaster and is only the fourth Indian woman after Humpy, D. Harika and R. Vaishali to get that coveted title. Last year, Divya won the World junior championship in Ahmedabad with a dominant display. She also played a key role in India’s historic gold in the Chess Olympiad at Budapest. India was the top seed there, though. At the World Cup, the Indian women exceeded expectations, with four of them making it to the quarterfinals. (198 words)
[Extracted from the newspaper, The Hindu July 29, 2025]
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