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Lionel Messi hasn’t been nominated for the Ballon d’Or bringing end to an era that saw him claim the award a record eight times.
Lionel Messi currently plies his trade for MLS club Inter Miami. (AP Photo)
With Vinicius Jr heavily tipped to win the Ballon d’Or award, Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino has claimed that in his eyes Lionel Messi still the “best in the world”. For the first time since 2003, Messi hasn’t been shortlisted among the nominees having been crowned the winner last time around that took his tally to a record eight Ballon d’Or awards – the most by any in history. Incidentally his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo is also not among the nominees having won the award five times.
“It (the Ballon d’Or) has never been something that caught my attention, nor was it clear to me whether the award is for the best in the world or of the year. Vinicius Junior probably has the merit (of being the best last season), although if you ask me who is the best right now, it’s Messi,” Martino was quoted as saying by Goal.
Vinicius, who represents Real Madrid, has inherited the famous number seven shirt from Ronaldo who won four of his five Ballon d’Or awards while playing for the Spanish giants.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti declared recently that the Brazilian will be crowned as the best footballer at the ceremony set to be held on October 29 (IST).
“Vinicius is going to win (the Ballon d’Or). And not because of the three goals but because of his character. He’s extraordinary.” Ancelotti said after Vinicius scored a hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 5-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League recently.
On the other hand, Messi won seven of his eight Ballon d’Or awards while representing FC Barcelona. He later moved to Paris Saint-Germain and won his eighth award after playing a starring role in Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Messi now plies his trade for Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami and has scored 20 goals so far this season in addition to 11 assists.
