Former Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho has shared the thoughts in the debate on whether Lionel Messi robbed Wesley Sneijder of the Ballon d’Or award in 2010.
When asked on an episode of the Vibe with Five podcast, the 61-year-old tactician said that while Messi deservingly won the award that year, Sneijder at least deserved to finish in the top three.
Mourinho was Inter Milan’s manager when the Argentina playmaker won the Ballon d’Or ahead of Sneijder. In 2010, Sneijder, who won the Treble (Champions League, the Serie A, and the Italian Cup), appeared to be the perfect candidate for the Ballon d’Or but was pipped by Messi.
“I don’t like to say robbed. Who won it [Ballon d’Or], Messi? So not robbed. But Wesley did the treble, Champions League winner, and I think the World Cup final, the same season.
So Wesley should be there at least in the top three, but when, in the last generation, Cristiano [Ronaldo] and Messi, they win the Ballon d’Or, it is never robbed,” Mourinho said.
The 2010 Ballon d’Or final power rankings saw Barcelona legends Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez join Messi in the top three as Sneijder missed out.
In related news…
British broadcaster, Piers Morgan has revealed who he thinks deserved to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or award over Lionel Messi.
He took to his Twitter (X) account to allege that the award process was rigged after the Inter Miami forward was announced as last year’s winner.
The controversial TV personality stated that Manchester City striker, Erling Haaland should have picked up the prize instead.
Morgan said; “Messi preposterously winning the Ballon d’Or this year is yet more proof that the whole ‘Golden Ball’ system is rigged.
“He should have won 2 fewer, @Cristiano should have won 2 more, and Haaland should have won this year. End”.
Messi won the Ballon D’Or in 2023 ahead of Haaland and Mbappe, making it a record eighth time in his career.
