Pep Guardiola identifies a pair of players who were deserving of the Ballon d’Or award but were unable to do so due to Messi and Ronaldo.

Pep Guardiola identifies a pair of players who were deserving of the Ballon d’Or award but were unable to do so due to Messi and Ronaldo. Pep Guardiola, the head coach of Manchester City,

 

 

 

has already identified two players who he believes should have been awarded the Ballon d’Or but were not. Guardiola, who is 54 years old, has overseen some of the most exceptional athletes to have ever graced the pitch. Lionel Messi, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta were the players at Barcelona. His collaboration with Robert Lewandowski was a delightful experience during his tenure at Bayern Munich. Sergio Aguero,

 

 

 

 

Kevin De Bruyne, and Erling Haaland have contributed to Manchester City’s numerous victories. However, Rodri, a midfielder, is the most recent player to earn the Ballon d’Or under Guardiola’s tutelage. He was awarded the 2024 edition of the trophy, much to the surprise of Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr. Guardiola named two players who he believed deserved to receive the

 

 

 

 

 

prize but never did during their careers when speaking in the days following Rodri’s award.In October 2024, Guardiola declared, “Messi, nobody could surpass him.” “Cristiano alone.” Messi is the father of Cristiano, who was a psychopath. In the past 15 or 20 years, both have accomplished something extraordinary. Messi and Ronaldo have a combined total of 13 Ballon d’Or titles, with Messi having won eight and Ronaldo having won five. These titles were obtained between 2008 and 2023.

 

 

 

 

The only players to interrupt their reign of dominance were Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022. “ And perhaps at that moment, Xavi and Iniesta, Lionel Messi, and Xavi were awarded the 2010 Ballon d’Or. Credit: Getty “Consequently, I believe that Rodri received the global recognition that Spanish football deserved yesterday.”

 

 

 

 

He proceeded, “Should Vinicius have been awarded the [2024] Ballon d’Or?” Possibly, but it is the reality. It is journalists, not a group of exceptional individuals, who determine their obligations. “It is not just one country that votes; it is all over the world.” He also stated that the Ballon d’Or was well-deserved.