Lionel Messi is the best player and deserved the 2016 Ballon d’Or award ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo said Barcelona legend Xavi. The Portuguese superstar won his fourth Ballon d’Or award on Monday garnering more than double the votes of second placed Lionel Messi.
The Real Madrid superstar had a stellar year winning the Champions League, Euro 2016 Championship and the UEFA Super Cup scoring an incredible amount of goals in all competitions. He even became Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer in October 2015 which led him to describe last season as the ‘best season’ of his career.
While almost all the football personalities around the world felt that Ronaldo fully deserved his 4th Ballon d’Or award, Barcelona legend Xavi was adamant that his former team-mate deserved it ahead of Ronaldo.
"They counted the major trophies but there are other years in which they didn't use that to award the best player in the world," he told TV3 . "Leo Messi is the best despite the trophies that someone else might have won."
Also read: Cristiano Ronaldo says he would have won more Ballon d'Ors than Lionel Messi if they were team mates
It is not the first time Xavi has said some comments against the Portuguese captain. Earlier this year. Xavi had angered Ronaldo when he had said:
“Ronaldo is extraordinary but compared to Messi, for me and for everyone who likes football, there can be no comparisons.
“Messi will be number one until he wants [to stop]. He's superior to everyone and is the best in the world unless you are Real Madrid."
The comments prompted Ronaldo to take a dig and get back at the World Cup winner.
"I'm the most searched player on the internet. Anyone who wants free publicity or media attention talks about me,” the Portuguese forward added.
"I couldn't care less about what Xavi says about me, he plays in Qatar or I don't even know where. He's won every collective trophy, including a World Cup and the European Championship, but he's never won a Ballon d’Or.”
The latest comments by Xavi would have angered Ronaldo once again and it will be interesting to see if the Real Madrid superstar responds to the Barcelona legend’s latest quotes.
Cristiano Ronaldo, along with the Real Madrid squad are currently in Yokohama, Japan, preparing for the Club World Cup semi-final which will be held on Wednesday.
