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Lionel Messi has received extra Ballon d’Or trophies than every other footballer in historical past.
When the Barcelona famous person’s title was learn out as an alternative of Virgil van Dijk on the 2019 ceremony, the Argentine moved away from his everlasting rival Cristiano Ronaldo together with his sixth golden trophy.
It is an astonishing haul that might be essential within the GOAT debate when Messi hangs up his boots, notably on the subject of drawing a line below the perpetual debate towards Ronaldo.
2010 Ballon d’Or
Nevertheless, those that lived by way of Messi’s period of Ballon d’Or dominance will know that his six triumphs did not come with out controversy – and none extra so than the second in his assortment.
It is now been over 10 years since Messi received the Ballon d’Or for the second yr in a row, transferring midway by way of the longest interval of dominance within the historical past of the coveted particular person prize.
It was additionally a notable yr for Messi’s membership, Barcelona, as a result of all three nominees hailed from Camp Nou with Xavi and Andres Iniesta competing for France Soccer’s prime male accolade.
‘Ballon d’Or theft’
Ultimately, although, the 2 Spanish midfielders needed to pose beside their free-scoring teammate as he received 22.65% of the vote whereas they needed to accept 17.36% and 16.48% respectively.
It was the primary yr that the Ballon d’Or merged with the FIFA World Participant of the 12 months, that means that journalists’ had been joined by the opinions of nationwide coaches and captains.
However within the opinion of many, too many cooks spoiled the broth as a result of the 2010 Ballon d’Or was retrospectively branded a ‘theft’ by Spanish newspaper Marca on its anniversary this week.
Apology for Iniesta
The choice to award Messi the highest prize forward of Iniesta is now being seen as a controversial transfer and a lot in order that France Soccer later apologised that he by no means collected the gong.
“Forgive us, Andres,” their editor Pascal Ferre wrote in 2018. “For us, he wasn’t only a participant, he was the participant. His sacrifices for the staff finally disadvantaged him of larger particular person recognition.
“Of all of the absences on the listing of Ballon d’Or winners, his is especially painful. We will solely hope he has a particular marketing campaign on the World Cup in Russia and restore this democratic anomaly.”
Apart from, lest we overlook that Iniesta was probably the greatest gamers on the 2010 FIFA World Cup, scoring the successful aim within the last and bagging the La Liga crown with Barcelona for good measure.
Let’s face it, Iniesta going his total profession with out successful a Ballon d’Or trophy is a tricky capsule to swallow and I feel we are able to all agree that Iniesta’s most deserving yr was certainly 2010.
What about Sneijder?
Nevertheless, Iniesta is not alone in having an out of doors declare for the trophy that finally wound up at Messi’s toes with many supporters feeling that Wesley Sneijder ought to have been given the nod.
If something, Sneijder in all probability has a greater case than Iniesta having received the Champions League, Coppa Italia and Serie A with Inter Milan, earlier than ending the World Cup as joint-top scorer.
However ultimately, rightfully or wrongly, Messi bagged the massive prize on the evening with a transparent majority within the vote and you realize what they are saying about those that make historical past… sorry, Andres and Wesley.
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