Jose Mourinho has come to the defence of Lionel Messi’s 2010 Ballon d’Or win, countering claims made by his former player Wesley Sneijder, who deemed the decision “unfair.”
Sneijder, a former Dutch international, expressed his disappointment at not receiving the individual accolade in 2010, despite playing a pivotal role in Mourinho’s Inter Milan’s triumphant campaign in the Champions League, Coppa Italia, and Serie A.
Despite Messi’s achievements being limited to winning La Liga and experiencing Argentina’s World Cup quarter-final exit that year, Mourinho, the former Roma manager, has sided with Inter Miami’s Sneijder, offering support for his perspective.
On Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe with Five podcast, the Portuguese said, “I don’t like to say it robbed. Who won it? Messi? So, not robbed. But Wesley did the treble, the Champions League winner, and I think the World Cup final in the same season. So Wesley should be there at least in the top 3, but when in the last generation, when Cristiano [Ronaldo] and Messi win the Ballon d’Or, it’s never robbed.”
While there have been debates surrounding some of Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or victories, notably the 2023 award, where he scored fewer goals than Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain and Erling Haaland of Manchester City and played in the MLS, widely considered a weaker league, the 36-year-old’s legacy as one of the greatest players in history is unquestionable. His impact transcends individual accolades
Messi’s Miami team kicks off their 2024 MLS campaign with a home match against Real Salt Lake on February 22, followed by an away fixture against the LA Galaxy.
In contrast, Wesley Sneijder, his former teammate, retired from professional football in 2019.