2022 FIFA World Cup winner with Argentina – Lionel Messi is tired of winning the Ballon D’or. In a recent interview with an European outlet, Messi said that he doesn’t care about winning the individual award anymore. The 35-year-old has the most Ballon D’or awards (7) and he is least bothered about getting his 8th.
No other footballer in the world is closer to his level other than of course Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese sensation who now plays club football outside of Europe, won the Ballon D’or 5-times and it is unlikely for him to equal his Argentine counterpart’s record.
During their prime years, both of them dominated European football like no other. The long-standing GOAT debacle was somehow put to an end last year in when Lionel Messi won the World cup. In his own words, the Argentinian said that Individual accolades doesn’t excite him anymore but the collective awards do hold a major significance.
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When asked about winning his 8th Ballon D’or, Messi said – “Does the Ballon d’Or matter to me? No, it’s no longer important to me. I’ve always said, the individual prizes are not what matters to me, but the collective ones are the most important. The most important prize at the moment is the World Cup, the greatest prize for me.”
Lionel Messi hints about not playing the 2026 FIFA World Cup at USA, Canada and Mexico
The 35-year-old is currently on International duty with Argentina for friendlies against Australia and Indonesia at China. When he was asked about his chances for playing the next world cup, Leo Messi claimed that the 2022 FIFA WC at Qatar was supposed to be his last and he does not have any plans to be at the next world cup.
🚨🗣️ @DBR8 Following Messi’s interview in China: “I think Messi never seriously considered his return to Barca. He didn’t do his best. I see him with more desire to live than to play. I thought his eagerness to compete would last a little longer.”
Thoughts? 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/TwFUKWzr4H
— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) June 13, 2023
I think not. [Qatar] was my last World Cup. I’ll see how things go, but as it is right now, no, I won’t go to the next World Cup.” – Messi said about 2026 FIFA World cup which will have 48 teams.
