Messi believed his Barcelona teammate deserved to win the 2011 Ballon d'Or.
Lionel Messi, who won his third consecutive Ballon d'Or in 2011, has expressed his desire to share the award with his Barcelona teammate, Xavi Hernandez.
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Lionel Messi beat out Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi Hernandez to claim the prestigious award back in 2011.
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The Argentine and Xavi played together for over a decade at Barcelona before the Spaniard left after they made history together at Camp Nou.
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The 37-year-old who enjoyed a phenomenal 2010-11 season, scoring 53 goals and providing 27 assists in 55 matches for Barcelona, was recognised for his outstanding contributions as the club secured a treble of La Liga, the Champions League, and the Supercopa de Espana.
What Messi said
However, Messi, known for his humility and team spirit, acknowledged the crucial role Xavi played in his success.
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"I'm going to share this with Xavi. It's the fourth time we've been here in Zurich; it's a great pleasure to play alongside him. Xavi, you deserve the trophy just as much as me. Without you, I wouldn't have won and I want to thank you for being such a good friend," Messi said via Sportstar.
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22:50 - 28.01.2025
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Messi currently holds the record for most Ballon d'Ors with eight (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023).