The Newcastle icon was in a foul mood

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer says he snubbed the Ballon d'Or afterparty in 1996 after finishing in third place in the illustrious vote to be the world's best footballer. German international Matthias Sammer took top spot that year with 144 points, with the iconic Ronaldo as runner-up on 143 points.

Just one point separated the two stars in one of the closest-ever Ballon d'Ors, with Shearer in third place on 107 points. Shearer was a Blackburn Rovers player at the time, but signed for Newcastle in the summer of 96 for a then world record fee of £15million.

The Magpies' legend will be at the upcoming Ballon d'Or ceremony next week, but he's hoping Harry Kane will go one better than himself and win the award, after scoring an incredible 73 goals in 65 matches.

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Speaking to Betfair, 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.

"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.

"There have been so many brilliant individual performances over the year, but I think it's fifty-fifty. My only concern would be that traditionally the Ballon d'Or has gone to either a World Cup winner or a European Championship winner, and Harry obviously hasn't done that, whereas Yamal has. That would be my only concern.

"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 one was Michael Owen, wasn't it? So, it's been such a long time for an English player, and I sort of understand it because of the standards of Messi and Ronaldo.

"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.

"In 1996, I finished third in the Ballon d’Or and I finished top scorer. I was the top scorer in the Euros. We got to the semi-finals. I then moved for a world record fee.

"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."