Northern Ireland’s captain and drillmaster did not get a vote in the Ballon d’Or poll, as the Irish Football Association (IFA) did not advanced the ballots on time.
The blooper meant the choices of Southampton midfielder Steven Davis and Michael O’Neill were not counted.
The brace were the alone Uefa assembly not to accept a say in the challenge to adjudge the world’s best player.
“The aboriginal abstracts were not accustomed on time,” the IFA admitted.
Fifa accepted that it beatific out a admonition email afore the cease of the ballot.
A Ballon d’Or agent confirmed: “The online votes were recorded afore the deadline; about the aboriginal abstracts with the signatures were not accustomed on time. We charge to accept it, because alone than the votes are valid.”
One hundred and eighty one civic football associations voted in the all-around poll, while 27 countries did not acknowledgment any nominations.
Journalist Jackie Fullerton, who voted for Cristiano Ronaldo advanced of Thomas Muller and Lionel Messi, was the sole Northern Irish representative.
Real Madrid advanced Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or, his third title, with 37.66% of all votes.
