Lionel Messi has in total won a record 8 Ballon d’Or’s throughout his career. However, on many occasions, the legitimacy of some of these accolades has been questioned by critics. Now former Dutch football player Wesley Sneijder stirred up this debate by expressing his opinion on the Argentine’s 2010 Ballon d’Or win, which seemed a little unfair to him.

The 2010 Ballon d’Or ceremony saw Messi claim the coveted trophy for the second consecutive year. Sharing the podium with him were his former Barcelona teammates, Andres Iniesta and Xavi. Sneijder, on the other hand, was awarded the fourth rank in the competition, an outcome that still bothers the Dutch legend.

Wesley Sneijder believes he should have won the 2010 Ballon d’Or

In a recent interview with Egyptian channel Alhayah TV, Sneijder openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the 2010 Ballon d’Or result. He stated, “It was a bit unfair that I wasn’t crowned with the 2010 Ballon d’Or and Messi won it.” Sneijder’s grievances stem from his remarkable performances that season.

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He had an exceptional campaign, winning a treble with Inter Milan and even reaching the finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup with the Netherlands. All these accomplishments made him a strong candidate to win the prestigious award. However, it’s worth noting that Sneijder prioritizes team achievements over individual accolades.

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In the same interview, Sneijder emphasized this perspective, saying, “Although I’m not the guy who cries about it: the Ballon d’Or is an individual award, and what I prefer is to win collective trophies.” He further added, “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.” 

The former midfielder’s comments have added to the long-standing discussion about the deserving nature of Messi’s numerous wins. Not only has his 2010 win, but his 2023 Ballon d’Or triumph has also been subject to questioning on numerous occasions.

Questions raised against the 8th Ballon d’Or of Lionel Messi

On October 30th, 2023, Lionel Messi was awarded his 8th Ballon d’Or after a remarkable performance in the World Cup. However, even before the announcement, numerous critics argued that Erling Haaland was more deserving of the award. Prominent voices in soccer, such as Norwegian legend Jan Age Fjortoft, expressed their belief that Haaland’s goal-scoring records and treble should have secured him the win.

Former English player Craig Burnley took it even further by suggesting that Haaland should boycott future ceremonies if Messi emerged as the victor. Ultimately, Lionel Messi claimed the trophy, but many continue to raise doubts about this decision.

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Who do you think should have won the 2010 Ballon d’Or? Let us know in the comments.