Al Nassr have been eliminated from the King’s Cup after <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/video-cristiano-ronaldo-misses-penalty-to-equalize-for-al-nassr-vs-al-taawoun">Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty against Al Taawoun</a> that would have leveled the game. This missed opportunity means the Portuguese star has lost a chance to add another title with his Saudi Arabian side. But how many trophies has Ronaldo won in Saudi Arabia compared to <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lionel-messi">Lionel Messi</a>’s achievements with Inter Miami?


 

 


Since joining Al Nassr in January 2023, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cristiano-ronaldo">Ronaldo</a> has lifted only one trophy with the club. In August of that same year, he scored twice in a 2-1 victory over Al Hilal, securing the Arab Club Champions Cup for his team. Unfortunately for Ronaldo, this title does not count as an official FIFA-recognized trophy.



Lionel Messi, by contrast, has won two official titles since arriving at <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/inter-miami">Inter Miami</a>. His first came in August 2023 when Inter Miami triumphed over Nashville in a tense 10-9 penalty shootout to clinch the Leagues Cup. Messi then helped secure a second title in October 2024, when Inter Miami finished atop the MLS regular season standings, claiming the Supporters’ Shield with 74 points.



Now, as Inter Miami head into the Eastern Conference semifinals against Atlanta United, Messi has a chance to further widen the title gap with Ronaldo in the near future.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241029_BUS_262075_Messi-supporters-shield-1024x576_f9adbd21.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Lionel Messi #10 and Inter Miami lift the Supporters&apos; Shield after defeating New England Revolution at Chase Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. " class="wp-image-262125" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-supporters-shield-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-supporters-shield-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-supporters-shield-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-supporters-shield-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-supporters-shield-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-supporters-shield-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-supporters-shield-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-supporters-shield.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Lionel Messi #10 and Inter Miami lift the Supporters’ Shield after defeating New England Revolution at Chase Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. </figcaption></figure>



<h2>What’s left for Ronaldo and Messi?</h2>



Ronaldo’s journey with <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/al-nassr">Al Nassr</a> in the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League is just beginning, and the team remains in contention for the 2024/25 AFC Champions League. However, the Portuguese will need to wait until next year for another shot at a trophy with Al Nassr, marking 2024 as a rare trophyless year for the soccer star.


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As for Lionel Messi, Inter Miami are competing in the MLS playoffs after securing first place in the league standings. David Beckham’s team is currently matched against Atlanta United in the Eastern Conference semifinals, aiming for more silverware this season.



<h2>Missed titles for Messi and Ronaldo in 2024</h2>



Both soccer icons had multiple chances to add to their trophy collections in 2024 but fell short in crucial stages. Ronaldo’s Al Nassr suffered several near-misses: they were eliminated by Al Ain in the AFC Champions League quarterfinals, lost to Al Hilal 2-1 in the Super Cup semifinals, and fell to Al Hilal again in the 2023-24 King’s Cup final.



Messi and Inter Miami also experienced disappointment in international competitions. They faced elimination by Mexican club Monterrey in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals. Then, in August, they exited the Leagues Cup in the round of 16 after a close 3-2 defeat to Columbus Crew.

Al Nassr out of King's Cup: How many titles has Ronaldo won in Saudi Arabia compared to Messi in MLS?

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Rodri claims 2024 Ballon d’Or: Every 21st century winner outside Messi and Ronaldo

Al Nassr out of King's Cup: How many titles has Ronaldo won in Saudi Arabia compared to Messi in MLS? - Bolavip US

miniaturas

Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernández—better known as <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/rodri">Rodri</a>—claimed the 2024 Ballon d’Or, edging out Brazilian star Vinicius Jr. for the coveted award. In an unexpected twist, Real Madrid fans, frustrated by the result, took to Instagram to vent their anger, not at Rodri, who has no social media presence, but at Argentina’s Lionel Messi’s teammate and Atletico Madrid player, Rodrigo de Paul.



On De Paul’s latest Instagram post, hundreds of comments poured in, with users posting phrases like “you don’t deserve the Ballon d’Or” and “thief.” As this drew attention, fans from other clubs joined in, mainly to mock <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/real-madrid">Madrid</a> supporters who had mistaken De Paul for Rodri. Meanwhile, the mix-up extended to singer Olivia Rodrigo, who received similar playful comments on her latest post, adding to the social media frenzy.



Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win came as a surprise to many, as <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/vinicius-jr">Vinicius Jr</a>. was widely seen as the frontrunner, even though the Spanish midfielder had strong credentials to his name. As a defensive midfielder, Rodri was pivotal for both Spain and City, playing a major role in their successes, including winning the Premier League, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and 2024 Euros. He was named MVP of the Euros and contributed to 24 goals across all competitions (10 goals and 14 assists).



However, Real Madrid were (reportedly) so displeased by Vinicius’ Ballon d’Or snub that the club decided to skip the Paris ceremony altogether. This decision came despite Real Madrid being awarded the title of best men’s club, with Carlo Ancelotti named men’s coach of the year, and Kylian Mbappe sharing the top scorer accolade with Harry Kane.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241029_BUS_261997_rodri-and-olivia-rodri-1024x576_fa85f99e.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="rodri and olivia rodrigo&apos;s comments" class="wp-image-262023" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/rodri-and-olivia-rodri-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/rodri-and-olivia-rodri-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/rodri-and-olivia-rodri-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/rodri-and-olivia-rodri-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/rodri-and-olivia-rodri-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/rodri-and-olivia-rodri-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/rodri-and-olivia-rodri-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/rodri-and-olivia-rodri.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Comments on Olivia Rodrigo and Rodrigo de Paul’s Instagram accounts (Screencaptures)</figcaption></figure>



Vinicius, who helped Real Madrid clinch LaLiga and the Champions League, tallying 24 goals and 11 assists across all competitions, ultimately took second place. The Brazilian star was also the Champions League MVP and scored in the final. Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham placed third, and Dani Carvajal—crucial for both Spain and Real Madrid—finished fourth.


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<h2>Vinicius Jr. reacts to the snub, other players congratulate Rodri</h2>



After the ceremony, Vinicius Jr. reacted to the snub with a message on social media. “I’ll do it 10x times if I have to. They’re not ready,” he wrote in Portuguese on X. Meanwhile, his former Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema, who won the award in 2022, also showed support to Vinicius on an Instagram story, sharing a photo of them with the caption “trop fort” (“too good”).



On the other hand, several players have shown their support to Rodri, congratulating him on his win. Former Barcelona and Spain stars such as Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, Jordi Alba, Xavi and Luis Suarez all congratulated Rodri, as well as Aitana Bonmati and Lamine Yamal for their respective wins. Meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann also celebrated Rodri’s win with a post on X.


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Finally, Manchester City’s coach Pep Guardiola also weighed in on the result. After congratulating Rodri, he gave his opinion on Vinicius: “Vinicius should’ve won Ballon Dor? Maybe, but it’s what happened. It’s journalists, it’s not a group of elite people that decide what they have to do. It’s all around the world, it’s not just one country’s vote. It’s all around the world, with different opinions.” He also <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/pep-guardiola-makes-something-clear-to-cristiano-ronaldo-about-lionel-messi">left a message to Cristiano Ronaldo about Lionel Messi.</a>

Ballon d’Or: Fans flood Instagram of Messi’s Argentina teammate after Vinicius’ snub

Carlo Ancelotti may have taken a subtle shot at France Football after Vinicius, Carvajal Ballon d&#039;Or snub

Ballon d’Or: Fans flood Instagram of Messi’s Argentina teammate after Vinicius’ snub - Bolavip US

Following Rodri’s 2024 Ballon d’Or win, fans reminisced about the era when <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lionel-messi">Lionel Messi</a> and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated the award and the global soccer scene. Just a day after the ceremony, Manchester City coach <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/pep-guardiola">Pep Guardiola</a> shared his perspective, delivering a pointed message about Messi’s legacy in comparison to Ronaldo.


 

 


In a press conference ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur, Guardiola responded to a question about the Ballon d’Or by celebrating Spanish soccer’s achievements. During his remarks, he didn’t hold back in expressing how Messi eclipsed <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cristiano-ronaldo">Ronaldo</a>.



“Xavi and (Andres) Iniesta could not win because he (Messi) was a monster, nobody could beat him. Just Cristiano (Ronaldo); Cristiano was a monster and the father of the monster is Messi. And both have done something incredible in the last 15, 20 years. Maybe in that moment Xavi and Iniesta deserved it as well,” said Guardiola in the press conference.



Guardiola also highlighted how, despite winning the 2010 World Cup, Spanish icons like Xavi and Iniesta couldn’t clinch the award over a transcendent Messi. He later noted <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/rodri">Rodri</a>‘s achievement, becoming the first ever Spanish player to ever win the award since Luis Suarez in 1960. “I think Rodri yesterday got what the Spanish soccer deserved worldwide” the coach said.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241029_BUS_261884_Messi-ronaldo-iniesta-balon-de-oro-2012-1-1024x576_3542d186.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="(L-R) Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid, Andres Iniesta of Barcelona and Lionel Messi of Barcelona attend the Press Conference with nominees for World Player of the Year and World Coach of the Year for Men&apos;s Football on January 7, 2013 at Congress House in Zurich, Switzerland." class="wp-image-261918" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-ronaldo-iniesta-balon-de-oro-2012-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-ronaldo-iniesta-balon-de-oro-2012-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-ronaldo-iniesta-balon-de-oro-2012-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-ronaldo-iniesta-balon-de-oro-2012-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-ronaldo-iniesta-balon-de-oro-2012-1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-ronaldo-iniesta-balon-de-oro-2012-1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-ronaldo-iniesta-balon-de-oro-2012-1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-ronaldo-iniesta-balon-de-oro-2012-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>(L-R) Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid, Andres Iniesta of Barcelona and Lionel Messi of Barcelona attend the Press Conference with nominees for World Player of the Year and World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football on January 7, 2013 at Congress House in Zurich, Switzerland.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Guardiola addressed the Messi-Ronaldo debate once again</h2>



Given his history with FC Barcelona from 2008 to 2012, Guardiola will have a biased opinion towards the Messi-Ronaldo debate. During that time, the Spanish was able to coach the Argentine, having witnessed Messi’s record-breaking 91 goals in 69 games during 2012, a milestone that is far from reaching.


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Guardiola named several times Messi as the greatest soccer player ever, but also acknowledge Ronaldo competing head-to-head with him. In this case, naming the Argentine as “the father of the monster“, he shocked both fans and media alike.



<h2>Messi and Ronaldo’s 15-year reign</h2>



Guardiola’s comments were on point regarding the undeniable reality of Messi and Ronaldo’s impact. From 2008 to 2023, Messi claimed eight Ballon d’Or titles to Ronaldo’s six, with only Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022 breaking their 15-year stronghold on the award.

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Pep Guardiola makes something clear to Cristiano Ronaldo about Lionel Messi - Bolavip US

The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony concluded with <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/rodri">Rodri</a>’s surprising win, particularly since Vinicius Jr. was widely expected to take the award. Some victories, however, were less unexpected—like Emiliano Martinez, who secured the Yashin Award for Best Goalkeeper for the second consecutive year. Argentina and Inter Miami’s captain Lionel Messi didn’t hesitate to congratulate his teammates and the other winners.



“Congratulations to all the winners and nominees for the Ballon d’Or 2024. Especially to Dibu (what a great honor—another award for the best goalkeeper in the world!) And to Lautaro, Leo (Scaloni), and Ale (Garnacho),” <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lionel-messi">Messi</a> shared on Instagram.



Though Messi wasn’t nominated for the Ballon d’Or this year, Argentina was represented by Lautaro, who placed seventh. Emi ‘Dibu’ Martinez also made history as the first goalkeeper to win the Yashin Award in consecutive years. Scaloni, though absent from the ceremony, was nominated for Men’s Coach of the Year, an award that ultimately went to <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/carlo-ancelotti">Carlo Ancelotti.</a>



Messi won his record-breaking eighth Ballon d’Or in 2023 after leading Argentina to a World Cup victory. This year, however, marked the first time since 2003 that neither Messi nor <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cristiano-ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> appeared on the nominees list.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241029_BUS_261599_dibu-1024x576_1f220e5f.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="dibu martinez and rodri" class="wp-image-261612" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/dibu-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/dibu-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/dibu-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/dibu-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/dibu-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/dibu-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/dibu-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/dibu.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>L-R: Dibu Martinez with Yashin Award, Rodri poses with Ballon d’Or (Aston Villa/Ballon d’Or)</figcaption></figure>



Rodri took home the 2024 Ballon d’Or after securing the Premier League and the 2024 Euros titles with Manchester City and Spain, respectively. Despite his role as a defensive midfielder, Rodri also contributed 24 goals (10 goals and 14 assists) across all competitions.



<h2>Other Ballon d’Or 2024 winners: Aitana Bonmati and Lamine Yamal</h2>



Barcelona also celebrated major wins at the 2024 Ballon d’Or. Aitana Bonmati claimed her second consecutive Ballon d’Or and the fourth for Barcelona Femeni. Additionally, Barcelona was named Best Women’s Club of the Year.


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On the men’s side, Lamine Yamal was honored as the Best Young Player, receiving the Kopa Trophy. Emma Hayes, head coach of the USWNT, earned the Johan Cruyff Award for Women’s Coach of the Year. Meanwhile, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe shared the Gerd Muller Trophy as the season’s top scorers, each with 52 goals.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior breaks silence on 2024 Ballon d&#039;Or snub

Ballon d’Or 2024: Lionel Messi’s heartfelt reaction to Dibu Martinez’s Best Goalkeeper win - Bolavip US

Spain and Manchester City star Rodri is the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, edging out top contenders like Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez and<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/report-vinicius-jr-and-real-madrid-make-bold-and-unexpected-move-ahead-of-ballon-dor-ceremony"> Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr., who notably skipped the ceremony in protest</a>. Rodri succeeds Lionel Messi, last year’s winner, and becomes only the 11th player of the 21st century outside of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to claim the prestigious award.



The Spanish midfielder was a pivotal figure for both <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/manchester-city">Manchester City</a> and Spain last season. With City, he captured the Premier League, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup titles. Representing Spain, he also lifted the Euro trophy. Across all competitions, he delivered with 10 goals and 14 assists.



Before Messi and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cristiano-ronaldo">Ronaldo</a> shared the award for a decade, the last player to claim it was Kaka in 2007. Previous winners included Luis Figo, Michael Owen, Ronaldo Nazario, Pavel Nedved, Andriy Shevchenko, Ronaldinho, and Fabio Cannavaro.



Luka Modric then broke the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly in 2018 after leading Croatia to the World Cup final and playing a critical role in Real Madrid’s Champions League victory. Messi returned to win in 2019 after securing La Liga with Barcelona and again in 2021 after lifting the Copa America with Argentina.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241028_BUS_261269_modric-ballon-dor-1024x576_9fd98a20.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="luka modric" class="wp-image-261294" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/modric-ballon-dor-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/modric-ballon-dor-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/modric-ballon-dor-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/modric-ballon-dor-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/modric-ballon-dor-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/modric-ballon-dor-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/modric-ballon-dor-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/modric-ballon-dor.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Luka Modric won the 2018 Ballon d’Or ( Denis Doyle/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



In 2022, Karim Benzema claimed the award after leading Real Madrid to triumphs in both the UEFA Champions League and La Liga. Then, in 2023, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lionel-messi">Messi</a> once again won the award following his remarkable performance in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory.


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<h2>All the Ballon d’Or winners of 21th century</h2>



<ul><li>2000 – Luis Figo</li><li>2001 – Michael Owen</li><li>2002 – Ronaldo</li><li>2003 – Pavel Nedved</li><li>2004 – Andriy Shevchenko</li><li>2005 – Ronaldinho</li><li>2006 – Fabio Cannavaro</li><li>2007 – Kaka</li><li>2008 – Cristiano Ronaldo</li><li>2009 – Lionel Messi</li><li>2010 – Lionel Messi</li><li>2011 – Lionel Messi</li><li>2012- Lionel Messi</li><li>2013 – Cristiano Ronaldo</li><li>2014 – Cristiano Ronaldo</li><li>2015 – Lionel Messi</li><li>2016 – Cristiano Ronaldo</li><li>2017 – Cristiano Ronaldo</li><li>2018 – Luka Modric</li><li>2019 – Lionel Messi</li><li>2020 – There wasn’t an award due to COVID-19 pandemic.</li><li>2021 – Lionel Messi</li><li>2022 – Karim Benzema</li><li>2023 – Lionel Messi</li><li>2024 – Rodri</li></ul>



<h2>Rodri’s impressive 2023-24 campaign</h2>



<ul><li>Champion of the 2024 Euro Cup with the Spanish National Team.</li><li>Champion of the 2023 UEFA Nations League with the Spanish National Team.</li><li>Champion of the 2023-24 Premier League with Manchester City.</li><li>Champion of the 2023 Club World Cup with Manchester City.</li><li>Champion of the 2023 UEFA Super Cup with Manchester City.</li><li>MVP of the 2024 Euro Cup tournament with the Spanish National Team.</li><li>MVP of the 2023 UEFA Nations League final with the Spanish National Team.</li><li>MVP of the 2023 UEFA Nations League tournament with the Spanish National Team.</li><li>Golden Ball winner of the 2023 Club World Cup tournament with Manchester City.</li></ul>



<h2>Rodri becomes fourth Spanish player to win the award</h2>



With this win, Rodri becomes the fourth Spanish player to win the Ballon d’Or, and the second man after Luis Suarez (1960) to do so. Meanwhile, Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati complete the list.

Lionel Messi reacts to Barcelona&#039;s thrashing of Real Madrid in El Clasico

Vinicius sends strong message after Real Madrid fans racially abuse Barcelona gem Lamine Yamal

Rodri claims 2024 Ballon d’Or: Every 21st century winner outside Messi and Ronaldo - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lionel-messi">Lionel Messi</a> and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated the Ballon d’Or for over a decade, sharing the award from 2008 to 2017, even in their early years. However, as they enter the twilight of their careers, new stars, like 24-year-old Vinicius Junior, are stepping up to contend for the prestigious title.



<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cristiano-ronaldo">Ronaldo</a> claimed his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 at age 23, while Messi won his inaugural Ballon d’Or in 2009 at 22 years and 160 days. By the time Messi was 24, he had already collected three Ballon d’Or trophies, adding victories in 2010 and 2011.



The youngest-ever Ballon d’Or winner remains Ronaldo Nazario, who earned the honor at just 20 years and three months in 1996. Yet, it’s not unusual for players to wait a bit longer for their first Ballon d’Or.



According to Marca, the average age of first-time winners is 26.8 years. The oldest winner to date was Stanley Matthews, who won in 1956 at age 41, while Messi became the second-oldest in 2023, winning at 36 years and four months.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241028_BUS_261424_cristiano-messi-1024x576_38e4a3d4.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="cristiano messi" class="wp-image-261436" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/cristiano-messi-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/cristiano-messi-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/cristiano-messi-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/cristiano-messi-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/cristiano-messi-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/cristiano-messi-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/cristiano-messi-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/cristiano-messi.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo during the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2014 (Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



<h2>How old was Messi for each of his Ballon d’Or wins?</h2>



Messi set a record with four consecutive Ballon d’Or wins from 2009 (at age 22) to 2012 (age 25). He won his fifth in 2015 at age 28, then claimed his sixth in 2019 at age 32. His seventh win came in 2021 at age 34, followed by an eighth in 2023, when he was 36.


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<h2>How old was Ronaldo for each of his Ballon d’Or wins?</h2>



Ronaldo’s first Ballon d’Or came in 2008 at age 23. He didn’t win again until 2013, when he was 28, and then again in 2014 at age 29. He secured his fourth Ballon d’Or in 2016 at age 31 and his fifth in 2017 at age 32.



<h2>All the ages of Ballon d’Or winners </h2>



<ul><li>1956 – Stanley Matthews (41)</li><li>1957 – Alfredo di Stefano (31)</li><li>1958 – Raymond Kopa (27)</li><li>1959 – Alfredo di Stefano (33)</li><li>1960 – Luis Suarez (25)</li><li>1961 – Omar Sívori (26)</li><li>1962 – Josef Masopust (31)</li><li>1963 – Lev Yashin (34)</li><li>1964 – Denis Law (24)</li><li>1965 – Eusebio (23)</li><li>1966 – Bobby Charlton (29)</li><li>1967 – Flórián Albert (26)</li><li>1968 – George Best (22)</li><li>1969 – Gianni Rivera (26)</li><li>1970 – Gerd Müller (25)</li><li>1971 – Johan Cruyff (24)</li><li>1972 – Franz Beckenbauer (27)</li><li>1973 – Johan Cruyff (26)</li><li>1974 – Johan Cruyff (27)</li><li>1975 – Oleg Blojín (23)</li><li>1976 – Franz Beckenbauer (31)</li><li>1977 – Allan Simonsen (25)</li><li>1978 – Kevin Keegan (27)</li><li>1979 – Kevin Keegan (28)</li><li>1980 – Rummenigge (25)</li><li>1981 – Rummenigge (26)</li><li>1982 – Paolo Rossi (26)</li><li>1983 – Michel Platini (28)</li><li>1984 – Michel Platini (29)</li><li>1985 – Michel Platini (30)</li><li>1986 – Igor Belánov (26)</li><li>1987 – Ruud Gullit (25)</li><li>1988 – Marco van Basten (24)</li><li>1989 – Marco van Basten (25)</li><li>1990 – Lothar Matthäus (29)</li><li>1991 – Jean-Pierre Papin (28)</li><li>1992 – Marco van Basten (28)</li><li>1993 – Roberto Baggio (26)</li><li>1994 – Hristo Stoichkov (28)</li><li>1995 – George Weah (29)</li><li>1996 – Matthias Sammer (29)</li><li>1997 – Ronaldo Nazário (21)</li><li>1998 – Zinedine Zidane (26)</li><li>1999 – Rivaldo (27)</li><li>2000 – Luis Figo (28)</li><li>2001 – Michael Owen (22)</li><li>2002 – Ronaldo Nazário (26)</li><li>2003 – Pavel Nedved (31)</li><li>2004 – Andriy Shevchenko (28)</li><li>2005 – Ronaldinho (25)</li><li>2006 – Fabio Cannavaro (33)</li><li>2007 – Kaká (25)</li><li>2008 – Cristiano Ronaldo (23)</li><li>2009 – Lionel Messi (22)</li><li>2010 – Lionel Messi (23)</li><li>2011 – Lionel Messi (24)</li><li>2012 – Lionel Messi (25)</li><li>2013 – Cristiano Ronaldo (28)</li><li>2014 – Cristiano Ronaldo (29)</li><li>2015 – Lionel Messi (28)</li><li>2016 – Cristiano Ronaldo (31)</li><li>2017 – Cristiano Ronaldo (32)</li><li>2018 – Luka Modric (33)</li><li>2019 – Lionel Messi (32)</li><li>2020 – There wasn’t award.</li><li>2021 – Lionel Messi (34)</li><li>2022 – Karim Benzema (34)</li><li>2023 – Lionel Messi (36)</li></ul>

How many Ballon d'Ors had Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo won at Vinicius' age?

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How many Ballon d'Ors had Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo won at Vinicius' age? - Bolavip US

Real Madrid hosted <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/barcelona">FC Barcelona</a> at the Santiago Bernabeu for La Liga‘s Matchday 11, in one of the most highly anticipated clashes of the 2024-25 season. The visitors outclassed their rivals, scoring four goals in the second half to secure a 4-0 victory in El Clasico. After the emphatic result, club legend <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lionel-messi">Lionel Messi</a> took to social media to share his reaction.


 

 


Messi is not known for being very active on social media outside of commercial posts and family updates. However, after witnessing his beloved club dominate their fierce rivals in El Clasico, he felt compelled to chime in.



In response to Barcelona’s Instagram post celebrating the win, Messi commented, “What a beautiful victory!!👏👏” Fans were thrilled to see Messi’s support, a reminder that even after his sudden departure from the club in 2021, he still holds a deep connection to Barcelona.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="387" height="552" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241027_BUS_260798_messi-comentario-barca-2_e0ea4570.webp&amp;width=387&amp;height=552" alt="Lionel Messi&apos;s comment on FC Barcelona&apos;s Instagram post after the 0-4 victory in El Clasico." class="wp-image-260911" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/messi-comentario-barca-2.jpg 387w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/messi-comentario-barca-2-210x300.jpg 210w" sizes="(max-width: 387px) 100vw, 387px"></figure><figcaption>Lionel Messi’s comment on FC Barcelona’s Instagram post after the 0-4 victory in El Clasico.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Barca’s Win evokes fond memories for Messi</h2>



Barcelona’s 4-0 win over <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/real-madrid">Real Madrid</a> at the Bernabeu might have felt familiar to Messi, as he was part of a similar triumph back in the 2015-16 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/la-liga">La Liga</a> season. On Matchday 12 of that campaign, FC Barcelona also dismantled Los Blancos with a 4-0 victory at the Bernabeu, thanks to goals from Luis Suarez (2), Neymar, and Andres Iniesta.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241027_BUS_260798_Messi-Barcelona-real-madrid-2015-1024x576_7aaf3954.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Andres Iniesta of FC Barcelona celebrates with Lionel Messi after scoring his team&apos;s 3rd goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on November 21, 2015 in Madrid, Spain. " class="wp-image-260848" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-Barcelona-real-madrid-2015-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-Barcelona-real-madrid-2015-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-Barcelona-real-madrid-2015-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-Barcelona-real-madrid-2015-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-Barcelona-real-madrid-2015-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-Barcelona-real-madrid-2015-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-Barcelona-real-madrid-2015-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/Messi-Barcelona-real-madrid-2015.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Andres Iniesta of FC Barcelona celebrates with Lionel Messi after scoring his team’s 3rd goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on November 21, 2015 in Madrid, Spain. </figcaption></figure>



In that match, Messi came off the bench in the 53rd minute, replacing Iniesta with the game already at 3-0. The Argentine star was easing back into action after recovering from an ACL injury earlier that year.


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<h2>Neymar joins Messi in Barca’s celebration</h2>



The victory also caught the attention of another former member of the iconic MSN trio. Brazilian star <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/neymar">Neymar</a> also greeted Barcelona after the historic victory at the Santiago Bernabeu.



In an Instagram post featuring his Brazilian compatriot Raphinha celebrating the victory, the Al Hilal player commented “Visca Barca” or “Long Live Barca” in Catalan.

Lionel Messi reacts to Barcelona's thrashing of Real Madrid in El Clasico

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Lionel Messi reacts to Barcelona's thrashing of Real Madrid in El Clasico - Bolavip US

After a string of poor performances over his 14-month tenure, Italian veteran coach Roberto Mancini has been dismissed as the head coach of Saudi Arabia’s national team. Despite a lucrative contract worth a staggering $100 million, the Saudi federation decided to move on with a known leader, who already knows what is to beat <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lionel-messi">Lionel Messi</a>‘s Argentina.



<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/saudi-arabia">Saudi Arabia</a> have turned once again to Herve Renard with the aim of securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Renard, who recently coached the French women’s team, is a familiar adversary to both Lionel Scaloni and Argentina’s national team.



Renard upset <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/argentina">Argentina</a> in the 2022 World Cup while coaching Saudi Arabia. On that occasion, his team ended La Albiceleste’s 36-match unbeaten streak, putting Argentina in a high-pressure situation to qualify for the knockout stage—a challenge they ultimately overcame, going on to win the tournament.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241027_BUS_260613_herve-renard-1024x576_c70d2c45.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="herve renard" class="wp-image-260615" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/herve-renard-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/herve-renard-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/herve-renard-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/herve-renard-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/herve-renard-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/herve-renard-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/herve-renard-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/herve-renard.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Hervé Renard during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 (Claudio Villa/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



He is now set for his second stint with the Middle Eastern squad. However, he has a tough challenge ahead as the team has struggled recently, winning only 7 of their last 18 matches. They currently sit third in Group C of the third round of qualifiers, which wouldn’t secure a direct spot in the 2026 tournament, now less than two years away.



In his most recent role, Renard guided France’s women’s team to the quarterfinals of the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/womens-world-cup">Women’s World Cup</a>, where they were eliminated by host nation Australia. He also managed the squad at the Paris Olympics before stepping down following a loss to Brazil.


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<h2>Herve Renard’s record with Saudi Arabia</h2>



During his first stint with Saudi Arabia from 2019 to 2023, the 56-year-old French coach managed 44 matches, earning 18 wins, 12 draws, and 14 losses, capturing about 50% of the possible points.



<h2>Mancini blames players after Saudi Arabia exit</h2>



Reports from Italian media suggested that tensions between Roberto Mancini and the Saudi Arabian players had been brewing for some time, a sentiment he confirmed after his departure. “Sometimes, I think players need to take responsibility,” Mancini remarked following a 0-0 draw with Bahrain in a World Cup qualifier.


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He added, “In my life, when I was a player, I took responsibility because it’s easy to blame the coach. It’s way too easy, but often that’s not the case. When a coach teaches everything to the team and they improve, then some players need to bring that quality to the field. If they don’t have it, of course, it’s difficult.” According to The Daily Mail, his severance pay-out will be between €20m and €25m.

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This Saturday, the Santiago Bernabeu stadium hosted a historic match as Barcelona delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Real Madrid on Matchday 11 of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/la-liga">La Liga</a>. The win solidified Barcelona’s position at the top of the league standings. Robert Lewandowski netted a brace, while Raphinha also found the back of the net. Lamine Yamal, meanwhile, made headlines with his first El Clasico goal, breaking a record that even Lionel Messi never achieved.



The moment came 32 minutes into the second half when Raphinha provided an assist to Yamal. The young forward stepped into the box, controlled the ball with his left foot, and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot that soared past goalkeeper Lunin. With this goal, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lamine-yamal">Yamal</a> became the youngest player to score against Real Madrid for Barcelona.



At just 17 years and 105 days, Lamine now tops this record, surpassing his teammate Ansu Fati, who previously held the title after scoring against <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/real-madrid">Real Madrid</a> at 17 years and 359 days in 2020.



<h2>Youngest players to score in El Clasico</h2>



Lamine Yamal’s goal updated the list of the youngest scorers in the history of El Clasico:



1- Lamine Yamal – 17 years and 105 days (2024)



2- Ansu Fati – 17 years and 359 days (2020)



3- Raul Gonzalez – 18 years and 95 days (1995)



4- Gavi – 18 years and 163 days (2023)



5- Sabino Barinaga – 18 years and 192 days (1941)



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241026_BUS_260171_Lionel-Messi-2021-1024x576_d57e13fa.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks on during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid at Camp Nou on May 08, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain." class="wp-image-241816" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/Lionel-Messi-2021-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/Lionel-Messi-2021-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/Lionel-Messi-2021-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/Lionel-Messi-2021-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/Lionel-Messi-2021.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks on during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid at Camp Nou on May 08, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Messi missed out on this record</h2>



Lionel Messi holds countless records throughout his illustrious career, with <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/barcelona">Barcelona</a>, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and the Argentine national team. Yet, he never made it onto the list of the youngest scorers in El Clasico history.


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The Argentine legend was just a few months too old when he scored his first goal against Real Madrid on March 10, 2007, at nearly 20 years of age, during a 3-3 draw at Camp Nou. Despite missing out on this particular milestone, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lionel-messi">Messi</a> made an impact that day with a three goals—his first of 61 hat tricks in his professional career.

Not even Messi could achieve it: Yamal's record-breaking performance for Barcelona vs Real Madrid

Not even Messi could achieve it: Yamal's record-breaking performance for Barcelona vs Real Madrid - Bolavip US

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/gerard-pique">Gerard Pique</a> defined an era with both FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team, playing a key role over 15 seasons for the Blaugrana. During his time with Barcelona, he clinched three UEFA Champions League titles and three Club World Cups, while with La Roja, he lifted the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 UEFA Euro.



Throughout his career, the 37-year-old former center-back shared the field with some of the game’s biggest stars. In 2012, during an interview with RAC1, Pique weighed in on the age-old debate over soccer’s greatest player, confidently naming, Lionel Messi his teammate since age 14 at <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/barcelona">Barcelona</a>, as his choice.



“I respect those who believe Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid’s star forward) deserves the Ballon d’Or, but I live with Leo, who’s an extraterrestrial, and Cristiano is the best of the humans. I was his teammate at Manchester United as well. He’s a hard worker, very talented, but next to Leo, he doesn’t stand a chance,” Pique commented.



These comments were made in the context of the 2012 Ballon d’Or race, which ultimately saw Lionel Messi take the award. That year, Messi shattered a world record by becoming the player with the most goals in a calendar year, scoring 91 times.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="694" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241026_BUS_260054_GettyImages-1146563500-1024x694_403054eb.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=694" alt="" class="wp-image-260072" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-1146563500-1024x694.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-1146563500-300x203.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-1146563500-768x521.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-1146563500-1536x1041.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/10/GettyImages-1146563500-2048x1388.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>BARCELONA, SPAIN – MAY 01: Gerard Pique of Barcelona congratulates Lionel Messi during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final first leg match between Barcelona and Liverpool at the Nou Camp on May 01, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



Pique went on to emphasize that Diego Maradona couldn’t achieve half of what Messi accomplished at Barcelona. “Maradona, at Barça, wasn’t even half of what Leo is. He’s been great for so many years that he already deserves to be considered the greatest player in history,” Pique added.


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<h2>Pique reaffirms his statement in 2022</h2>



After Argentina’s national team clinched the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Pique spoke with ESPN, expressing his happiness for Messi and doubling down on his view that Messi is the greatest player in soccer history.



“The soccer world wanted Messi to become a world champion. Especially for those doubters who questioned his career and said he needed a World Cup. I think there are no doubts anymore. He is the best player in soccer history. He took Barcelona to another level,” Pique stated at the time.

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