It has emerged that Inter star Wesley Sneijder would've won the Ballon d'Or had it still been under the old voting system.
There was controversy when Leo Messi was handed the first official FIFA Ballon d'Or yesterday, as France Football merged their trophy with the World Player of the Year.
Andres Iniesta and Xavi completed the top three, but it has been revealed that the combination of the trophies radically affected the result.
It has emerged that Inter star Wesley Sneijder would've won the Ballon d'Or had it still been under the old voting system.
There was controversy when Leo Messi was handed the first official FIFA Ballon d'Or yesterday, as France Football merged their trophy with the World Player of the Year.
Andres Iniesta and Xavi completed the top three, but it has been revealed that the combination of the trophies radically affected the result.
Had it been under the old system, where only journalists give their vote, then Sneijder would've topped the list thanks to winning the Treble with Inter.
Iniesta and Xavi would have followed after their World Cup victory with Spain, leaving Messi in fourth position.
Some of the votes have also been revealed, as Italy Coach Cesare Prandelli picked Sneijder, Iniesta and Messi for his top three.
England manager Fabio Capello opted for Iniesta, Xavi and Inter's Douglas Maicon in third.