‘It was unfair that Lionel Messi won’ - Inter Miami forward’s 2010 Ballon d’Or nod questioned as former Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder makes Champions League claim

Sneijder had an incredible season in 2009–10, helping Jose Mourinho's Inter win the Champions League, Coppa Italia, and Serie A. After that, Sneijder's Netherlands lost to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa. Conversely, Messi won the La Liga title in that season, and ultimately, his second Ballon d'Or. The Dutchman has now revealed that he should have had his name on the highly coveted individual award ahead of the Argentine.

“It was a little unfair that I didn’t win the 2010 Ballon d’Or and Messi did“, Sneijder said in an interview with Egyptian channel Alhayah TV, via Diario AS. "But, I’m not a guy who cries about that. The Ballon d’Or is an individual award, and I prefer to win collective trophies. If I had to choose between the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or, I would choose the Champions League I won, I’m very happy with that title. We deserved to win in the 2010 final against Spain, but they were incredible and beat us. Reaching the final was a wonderful achievement that I dreamed of and I’m still heartbroken to have lost.”

In the final voting list for the 2010 trophy, Sneijder came in fourth place. Messi received 22% of the vote, more than his Barcelona colleagues Andres Iniesta (17%) and Xavi (16%), while the Dutchman received 14%. Sneijder, who hung up his boots back in 2019, still appears upset over Messi's victory, although acknowledges that his biggest career regret is losing to Spain in South Africa.

The Dutchman has now retired and is currently involved with FC Utrecht in an unannounced role. The player called it quits on the field in 2019, playing his final season with Qatari side Al-Gharfah.