Lionel Messi winning his 8th Ballon d’Or was unanimously not well-received. Soccer legend Lothar Matthaus argued for Erling Haaland as the rightful winner while the likes of Deschamps felt that Mbappe was more deserving. Soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo even sparked controversy by liking a post that criticized the Argentine’s win. However, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni is having none of it. He even went the extra mile and lashed out at those critical of the soccer veteran’s unprecedented achievement.

Lionel Messi is currently preparing for the next season at Inter Miami. His Ballon d’Or title was of huge significance to the MLS as this marked the first time an active player from the league bagged the award.

Scaloni defends ‘fair’ Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi

Despite plenty of attacking talent, Lionel Messi still remains the main man for coach Scaloni. About Messi’s 8th Ballon d’Or title, he said, “I don’t really understand those who (hate) Messi’s Ballon d’Or. I imagine it is because they want to generate a debate, but I no longer believe there is one. The important thing is that he won one more and we all believe that it is fair.” Judging from his comments, Scaloni does not seem too pleased with the criticism regarding his star player.

The relationship between the two of them has been crucial in Argentina’s recent success. After taking charge in 2018, Scaloni has overseen 64 matches with 47 victories whilst winning the World Cup and Copa America. An impressive record that wouldn’t be possible without the brilliance of Lionel Messi. He has also revealed his admiration for the soccer legend many a time and mentioned that Argentina is ‘blessed to have Messi on our side’.

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However, Scaloni is not the only man who recognizes the genius of Messi. Recently, David Beckham also showered praise on the ‘Little Magician’.

David Beckham’s Inter Miami acquiring Messi’s signature was his ‘gift to America’

Inter Miami owner David Beckham shared his thoughts on having Lionel Messi in his team. He said, “It’s a very proud thing for me to have as an owner, to have a player like that, the best player in the world, in our team. We always knew that bringing Leo to America, not just to Miami, was our gift to America and the MLS”, as compiled by Inter Miami News.

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The Englishman also highlighted that Lionel Messi will be able to inspire the next generation of soccer players in the USA. He believes that this cause is as important as winning titles. With Messi having played just 3 months last season, US soccer fans haven’t really seen him at his best. That will likely change this season as a fully-integrated Messi will power up Inter Miami’s title charge.

Do you believe Lionel Messi winning his 8th Ballon d’Or was fair? Let us know in the comments below.

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