Ballon d’Or: ‘Messi didn’t rob Sneijder’ – Mourinho
Former Chelsea and AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho recently shared his perspective on whether Lionel Messi deprived Wesley Sneijder of the Ballon d’Or award in 2010.
Speaking on the Vibe with Five podcast, Mourinho acknowledged Messi’s rightful win of the award that year but expressed that Sneijder should have at least secured a spot in the top three rankings.
Mourinho was Inter Milan’s manager when Messi won the Ballon d’Or ahead of Sneijder back in 2010.
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At the time, 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 the Argentine.
“I don’t like to say robbed,” Mourinho said. “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.”
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.
