Barcelona boss Xavi insists Lionel Messi DID deserve to win the Ballon d’Or ahead of Robert Lewandowski and Jorginho, as he describes the Argentine’s record-extending victory as ‘total justice’
- Xavi Hernandez said his former team mate Messi deserved his Ballon d’Or win
- Messi beat Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and Chelsea’s Jorginho
- Many questioned the decision to hand the 34-year-old the award once again
- But Xavi described Messi’s record-extending seventh victory as ‘total justice’
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez insists his former team mate Lionel Messi deserved his Ballon d’Or win despite criticism of the PSG star claiming the award for the seventh time.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward beat Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and Chelsea’s Jorginho to lift the prestigious prize after winning the Copa America for the first time with Argentina in July.
Many questioned the decision to hand Messi the award but Xavi described the Argentine’s record-extending victory as ‘total justice’.
Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez said former team mate Lionel Messi deserved his Ballon d’Or win
Messi beat Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and Chelsea’s Jorginho to the award
‘I think it’s football justice. He is the best footballer in the world, and the best of all time. And he deserves this seventh award. No doubt about it,’ Xavi said.
‘We may think that maybe Lewandowski also deserved it, or other players, but this is the same debate every year… The moment they open the envelope and they say Messi won it, then it’s fair.’
Barcelona – who are currently seventh in LaLiga with 23 points – host fifth-placed Real Betis on Saturday.
Many questioned the decision to hand Messi the award but Xavi (above) described the Argentine’s record-extending seventh victory as ‘total justice’
