Ballon d’Or: ‘Disgrace’ – AC Milan’s former midfielder Dejan Savicevic names player that should’ve won award

Former AC Milan attacking midfielder, Dejan Savicevic, has insisted that the late former Italy defender Franco Baresi should have won a Ballon d’Or during his professional career.

Savicevic, who was a former teammate with Baresi during their time together at AC Milan, said it was a disgrace that the former centre-back didn’t win the Ballon d’Or.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, the 59-year-old said, “It’s a disgrace. How can you not give the Ballon d’Or to Baresi? But it’s your fault.

“You journalists. You didn’t vote for him. Only the Dutch won. Rijkaard always finished ahead of him, in first place.

“But Baresi was something else: he was a phenomenon. Look, don’t talk to me about the Ballon d’Or, it pisses me off.”

Baresi spent his entire 20-year career at AC Milan and died on 31 July 2026.