Xavi revealed if the Ballon d'Or was stolen from him in 2010 to give it to Messi

Lionel Messi has won several Ballon d'Ors amid criticism and controversy. This 2023 was with Erling Haaland, since despite winning everything with Manchester City, they gave it to the Argentine because they argued that it was because he won the World Cup in Qatar. While in 2010 it was the other way around.

But in 2010 the roles were reversed because they took into account what Lionel Messi won with FC Barcelona and won the Ballon d'Or over Xavi Hernández, who had been World Cup champion with Spain, in addition to lifting the trophies with the team that is now technical director. The former culé midfielder was clear when mentioning what happened in 2010.

“Leo's Ballon d'Or is highly deserved. Best player in the World Cup, for me there is no more debate. He is the best, he is the best footballer in history, I spoke with him this week and he was very happy," Xavi Hernández began in an interview with the media in Spain.

What Xavi said about the 2010 Ballon d'Or that Messi won?

"Why in 2010 didn't they give it to me or Iniesta? I think that at that time with Spain the votes were very distributed, there were so many footballers who were distributed. For me there is no debate. When we were Iniesta, Messi and to win, the envelope that said Messi came out and I felt justice, my feeling is that football does justice by giving it to the best footballer of the moment and also in history," added Lionel Messi.