Barcelona's Andres Iniesta: I hope Lionel Messi or Xavi win the FIFA Ballon d'Or - 7M sport

Barcelona's Andres Iniesta: I hope Lionel Messi or Xavi win the FIFA Ballon d'Or



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Posted Wednesday, December 28, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Barcelona's Andres Iniesta: I hope Lionel Messi or Xavi win the FIFA Ballon d'Or

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta says he wants teammates Lionel Messi or Xavi Hernandez to win the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for 2011, rather than Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Barca pair were recently named in the three-man shortlist for the prestigious award alongside the Portuguese winger, with the winner to be announced at a special gala in Zurich on Jan. 9.

And Iniesta makes no apologies for favoring his club teammates ahead of the profilic Portugal forward.

"The three that are there are the best three," admitted Iniesta, who was on the shortlist for the 2010 award won by Messi. "But I have two colleagues and I will be happy if the winner is one of them."

The 27-year-old Spain international was speaking at the Albacete Sports Gala, where he was honored with the award for Sports Excellence, and he said he is looking forward to next year.

"2012 will be an exciting year. Spain have a big challenge at Euro 2012, and Barcelona have a season that will also be exciting," Iniesta said.

The Albacete native also said it would have been nice to see his hometown club visit Camp Nou this season and wished the team luck for the remainder of the campaign.

"I've never hidden my love for Albacete, the city and its people," he added. "The Copa del Rey clash they now have with Atletico Madrid is very important and exciting, but the league [Segunda Division B] is important above all else this season."

Iniesta picked up a hamstring strain in a recent Copa del Rey clash with L'Hospitalet but insists he is not currently worried about it as he enjoys the winter break.

"I'm fine. I'm trying to enjoy the holidays with the family, turning off a bit," he said. "I am also thinking a bit about my leg, although it is not important and I hope to be fit again very soon."

Barcelona restarts its La Liga campaign against Espanyol on Jan. 8.



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