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Wesley Sneijder Inter Lionel Messi Ballon d'Or 2010 splitGetty/GOAL
Aditya Gokhale

‘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

L. Messi
Barcelona
Inter
Inter Miami CF
Major League Soccer
LaLiga
Serie A

Former Real Madrid and Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder believes he should have beaten Lionel Messi to the 2010 Ballon d'Or back in 2010.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

  • Lionel Messi won 2010 Ballon d'Or
  • Sneijder finished in fourth in standings
  • Believes he should've won the award
  • Sneijder-Inter-Milan-2010Getty

    WHAT HAPPENED?

    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.

  • WHAT SNEIJDER SAID

    “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.”

  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    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.

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  • sneijder

    WHAT NEXT FOR SNEIJDER?

    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.