Predictions for next 10 Ballon d'Or winners made in 2012 even included Mario Balotelli
dailystar.co.ukManchester City and Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli.The Italian striker is one of a number of shock inclusions in the list of future winners predicted by Bleacher Report a decade ago.It was also predicted that he would earn a top three finish for the award prior to winning it, something that seems crazy with the benefit of hindsight.Despite his form for Turkish side Adana Demirspor this season fuelling talk of an international recall, Balotelli remains below the standard of a Ballon d'Or nominee.So, just how well did Bleacher Report do with their set of predictions back in 2012?Inspired by the performances of those playing in the under-23 football tournament at the London Olympics, Bleacher Report predicted the next 10 Ballon d'Or winners.The predictions start strongly, with Lionel Messi going on to win his fourth award following his outstanding performances in 2012.A simple prediction to make with over half the year already completed and Messi already well on his way to his record goal tally for a calendar year of 91.Messi is the only player that was expected to win multiple Ballon d'Or awards across the next decade, meaning nine different winners were predicted.In reality, just three different players have won the award in this period, with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo sharing 12 of the last 13 editions between them.It was also predicted that Ronaldo, who was the real-life winner of the 2013 award, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic would finish behind Messi as losing finalists.The second and final correct prediction came in 2014, with Ronaldo expected to wrestle the title back off Messi, something he had actually achieved a year earlier.The predicted finalists for this year were Balotelli and his former City team-mate Sergio.
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