Lionel Messi tips Barcelona team-mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta for Ballon d'Or
Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi has named team-mates Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta as the favourites for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
The duo have been key to all of the successes of Barcelona and the Spain national team in recent years, having claimed all of the trophies available to them, including the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA European Football Championship.
Messi is in somewhat of a position of authority to speak on the matter, as he is the reigning European and World Player of the Year for his part in Barcelona’s triumphs in 2009.
While he is on the 23-man shortlist for this year’s accolade, he has insisted that his team-mates would be far more deserving recipients.
He told France Football in an interview, "What I would like to happen above all is for the Ballon d’Or to remain in our dressing room. The favourites are Xavi or Iniesta, who scored in the (2010 FIFA World Cup) final, and was the best player of
the tournament, even though Diego Forlan was chosen.
"The World Cup will have much weight in the final decision. Spain’s victory was fully deserved, because they produced good football and were able to withstand the pressure of being the favourite."
The trophy was traditionally given to the best player in European football, but has now been merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year award to create a single coveted prize for all of the game’s top players.
Meanwhile, Messi claimed that he had no desire whatsoever to leave La Liga champions Barcelona, saying that he was enjoying life in the Catalan city.
"I feel very good, and I have no desire to leave. You never know what can happen when all is well, but when things go wrong, who knows? You cannot be sure of anything. I enjoy being in Barcelona, and I hope that this will always be the case."
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