- The Argentine claimed his first Ballon d’Or since 2015.
- Messi believes his Champions League failure was the main reason behind the lack of the Ballon d’Or awards.
- The Argentine: “It’s up to you to tell me if the Ballon d’Or is awarded to the best player or the one who enjoys the best season.”
Lionel Messi made history as he scooped his record-breaking sixth Ballon d’Or. Before Monday, he hadn’t won this accolade since 2015.
After the gala, Messi opened up on his feelings during the years when his Real Madrid rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric were claiming this award.
Messi told France Football: “Was I frustrated in the last few years? Let’s say I understood why I did not win. As a team, we had not achieved our major goal, which was to win the Champions League, which gives you more chances to win the Ballon d’Or.”
“When Cristiano Ronaldo won it is because he had achieved great seasons by winning the Champions League and being decisive. It was deserved, there was not much I could do. Did I feel injustice? It’s up to you to tell me if the Ballon d’Or is awarded to the best player or the one who enjoys the best season.”
He also highlighted the importance of the ‘individual taste’. Messi continued: “Some prefer Cristiano, others myself or Neymar or [Kylian] Mbappe. People have the right to choose the one they like most.”
Cristiano Ronaldo won two Ballon d’Or awards in a row: in 2016 and 2017. Last year, it was Luka Modric who broke the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly. Sensationally, the Argentine only finished fifth in the rankings back then.
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