Argentine footballer Lionel Messi claimed the eighth Ballon d’Or title to additional increase his silverware cupboard in October this yr. The legendary ahead beats the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland to essentially the most prestigious particular person award in the soccer world.
Messi received his earlier seven awards whereas taking part in membership soccer in Europe however moved to USA’s Major League Soccer aspect Inter Miami in the summer season window. Both Haaland and Mbappe have been terrific in 2023 however failed to finish Messi’s sensational dominance in the award’s historical past.
Many followers and soccer pundits questioned Messi’s triumph for the award in 2023 and the integrity of the title. The 36-year-old has been wonderful in 2023 on each membership and nationwide ranges however many consider that the legend has handed his finest and claims his Ballon d’Or glory in October was unfair to different in-form stars.
The former Real Madrid and Netherlands star Wesley Sneijder additional fuels the discuss as he claimed that he deserved to win the award in 2010. Messi beat his then-Barcelona teammates Xavi and Andres Iniesta to clinch the 2010 Ballon d’Or award after getting his palms on the silverware for the primary time in 2009.
Sneijder joined Inter Milan in 2009-10 after spending two seasons with Real Madrid and was in sensational kind with Netherlands in worldwide competitions as effectively. The veteran playmaker received the treble with Inter and in addition performed a giant position in Netherlands’ street to the FIFA World Cup 2010 ultimate. But Sneijder completed fourth in the voting after Barcelona’s in-form trio and feels ‘unfair’ for not profitable the coveted gold.
“It was a little unfair that I didn’t win the 2010 Ballon d’Or and Messi did,” Sneijder instructed Egyptian channel Alhayah TV. “But, I’m not a guy who cries about that. The Ballon d’Or is an individual award, and I prefer to win collective trophies. If I had to choose between the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or, I would choose the Champions League I won, I’m very happy with that title.”
Meanwhile, Messi additionally received the Ballon d’Or in 2011 and 2012 to register eight awards, three greater than former Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.
