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Xabi Alonso Says Messi Deserves Ballon d'Or
Los Merengues midfielder says Xavi or Andres Iniesta could also have won it.
Dec 1, 2009 9:15:39 PM
Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has declared that Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi deserved to be named European Footballer of the Year after the Argentinian was confirmed as the winner of the 2009 Ballon d'Or.
Messi was officially announced as the winner early on Tuesday morning, winning the award with a record 473 points but Alonso believes that two of his Spain team-mates, Andres Iniesta and Xavi, could also have claimed the award. Xavi finished third in the poll while Iniesta was fourth.
"Giving him the award is not wrong because Messi deserved it, but it is also true that there were other candidates who could have won it," Alonso said, according to AS.
Alonso also stated that he was glad that Xavi received some recognition for his efforts after finishing third in the poll for Europe's best player.
"There were many other options for a [Ballon d'Or] winner like Xavi or Iniesta. Anyway I'm glad because he [Xavi] was third in the voting," he noted.
Paul Madden, Goal.com
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Messi was officially announced as the winner early on Tuesday morning, winning the award with a record 473 points but Alonso believes that two of his Spain team-mates, Andres Iniesta and Xavi, could also have claimed the award. Xavi finished third in the poll while Iniesta was fourth.
"Giving him the award is not wrong because Messi deserved it, but it is also true that there were other candidates who could have won it," Alonso said, according to AS.
Alonso also stated that he was glad that Xavi received some recognition for his efforts after finishing third in the poll for Europe's best player.
"There were many other options for a [Ballon d'Or] winner like Xavi or Iniesta. Anyway I'm glad because he [Xavi] was third in the voting," he noted.
Paul Madden, Goal.com
Want more from Goal.com delivered right to your door? Check out "Goal.com Magazine." Subscribe now!
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