Xavi: Messi should win Ballon d'Or, not Cristiano Ronaldo - 7M sport

Xavi: Messi should win Ballon d'Or, not Cristiano Ronaldo



Posted Wednesday, December 24, 2014 by Foxsports.com

Xavi: Messi should win Ballon d'Or, not Cristiano Ronaldo
Barcelona's Xavi doesn't think Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo should win the Ballon d'Or.

Xavi has questioned Cristiano Ronaldo's status as the favorite to win the Ballon d'Or, pointing out that the Portuguese "did not do much at the World Cup" and revealing that he would not even have the Real Madrid ace in his top three.

The Portuguese won the award for 2013 and is widely expected to retain his title after a year in which he fired Los Blancos to Champions League glory and played a key role in the Spanish side's remarkable run of 23 victories in all competitions.

However, Xavi does not believe that the 29-year-old would be a worthy winner, given a Ronaldo-led Portugal suffered a dismal first-round elimination at Brazil 2014, while Ballon d'Or rivals Manuel Neuer and Lionel Messi both featured in the final, for Germany and Argentina, respectively.

"He didn't do much in the World Cup, and in a World Cup year, the season is defined by that," the former Spain international said of Ronaldo in an interview with SPORT.
"[In first place I would have] Leo, second [Philipp] Lahm, and third [Javier] Mascherano."

Xavi also rubbished the suggestion that Messi holds more power in the Barca dressing room that coach Luis Enrique, an charge which stems from an allegation that the No.10 refused to be substituted earlier in the season.

"This image [of Messi] is totally false," the playmaker declared. "I think it's great that people can talk and say what they want, but this is a lie. Messi never imposes himself on the team. This squad agrees on everything.

"Obviously Leo has great importance within the team, but I have never seen Leo telling Luis Enrique what he wants. I just cannot see it happening. It's unthinkable."

Xavi also dismissed reports that Messi is unsettled at Barcelona, with the Argentine having caused panic in Catalunya by stating in November that he might not stay at Camp Nou.

"He is happier than ever," the veteran midfielder stated. "He's the best player in the world and we have to live with this kind of news. But I see him happy and content.

"It's very different from last year when suffered an injury that put him on the sidelines for two months with the World Cup on the horizon. It would not have been an easy year for anyone. But this season we are seeing the best Messi."

Meanwhile, Xavi voiced his support for Luis Suarez, who joined Barca from Liverpool for 94 million euros during the summer.

The Uruguay international was unable to make his debut until Oct. 25 because of a four-month ban for biting Georgio Chiellini at the World Cup and he initially struggled for goals.

However, Suarez ended his Liga drought in the 5-0 win over Cordoba at the weekend and Xavi is now expecting the striker to go from strength to strength.

"He has goals in his blood," the 34-year-old added. "He will start scoring more and more. The killer instinct he has reminds me a bit of Samuel Eto'o. He has that nastiness, that personality, that persistence.

"It was very unfair [that he did not get nominated for the Ballon d'Or]. He was punished for something that he had already suspended for. But that should not have detracted from his sporting merit."



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