Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has revealed he snubbed the Ballon d'Or afterparty in 1996 after finishing third in the vote for the world's best footballer. German international Matthias Sammer won that year with 144 points, while Ronaldo was runner-up with 143 points.
Just one point separated Sammer and Ronaldo in one of the closest-ever Ballon d'Or races, with Shearer third on 107 points. At the time, Shearer was a Blackburn Rovers player, but he signed for Newcastle in the summer of 1996 for a then world record fee of £15 million.
Shearer's 1996 Disappointment
Speaking to Betfair, Shearer recalled his frustration: "Genuinely, no one had a clue that night who was going to win it, you know. I was really, really disappointed. I didn't go to any after party. I refused to go to the ceremony afterwards because I had that much of the hump. I was just so disappointed. So, I just left."
In 1996, Shearer was the top scorer in the European Championship, helped England reach the semi-finals, and then moved for a world record fee.
Hoping for an English Winner
Shearer will attend the upcoming Ballon d'Or ceremony next week to present the top goalscorer of the year award. He is hoping Harry Kane will win the main prize after scoring 73 goals in 65 matches.
Shearer said: "I'm presenting the top goalscorer of the year award on Monday. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm hoping for an English win as well in the big one in terms of Harry Kane."
He added: "I know the two favourites are Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane, but there's also Kylian Mbappé and maybe Rodri as well in the running. It should be a good night, and one I'm looking forward to."
Kane's Chances
Shearer acknowledged concerns about Kane's prospects, noting that the Ballon d'Or has traditionally gone to a World Cup or European Championship winner. "Harry obviously hasn't done that, whereas Yamal has. That would be my only concern," he said.
Despite this, Shearer believes Kane deserves the award: "I think as brilliant as Lamine Yamal has been, I think the number of goals that Harry scored and what he's done for Bayern, what he did for England, I genuinely think he should win it. If Harry did win it, it would be great for English football."
The last English winner was Michael Owen, and Shearer noted the long gap is partly due to the standards set by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He said: "So many times they were going head to head and spurring each other on. But it would be brilliant for the England national team to win it, and it'd be amazing for Harry to have that as another accolade."
