Another Big Blow to Messi on His Quest For Ballon d’Or Award

Well, it all started with Manchester City Sergio Aguero. Then came a moment of silence. Jose Mourinho has triggered it again. This is how Ballon d’Or debate has fared on so far.

It seems that it is not going to be an easy task in selecting this season’s Ballon d’Or winner as two players who have dominated the football world are all out of the Champions League competition.

Cristiano who has won the award five times was sent out of the competition after Juventus was eliminated by Ajax in the quarter-finals.

Everyone now thought that since Barcelona advanced to the semi-finals, Messi would automatically bag the award this season.

Unfortunately, Barca fell into the hands of lethal Liverpool.

The Argentine forward produced a masterclass against Jurgen Klopp’s side to continue his magnificent run of form and, at the time, was way ahead of any other player in the race for football’s most prestigious individual accolade.

However, Barça’s spectacular capitulation at Anfield six days later has drastically altered the bookies’ 2019 Ballon d’Or odds.

Liverpool beat Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield to reach Champions League final

Messi remains the favourite (just) but now faces stiff competition from Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, who might become the Ballon d’Or frontrunner depending on what happens in next month’s Champions League final against Tottenham.

Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah’s odds have also shortened significantly after the Reds knocked Messi and his teammates out of Europe.

Sergio Aguero had earlier stated that neither Messi or Ronaldo deserve this year’s Ballon d’Or, a claim that he quickly refuted.

Mourinho was the latest to air out his voice to speak about the award.

Speaking to one publication, Mourinho said, “I have doubts that he deserves the Ballon d’Or this year because he failed in the Champions League.”

Messi hasn’t won a Ballon d’Or since 2015 but holds the record for winning the award the most number of times, along with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Surely part of him will be desperate, even if he won’t admit it, to pull one ahead of Ronaldo later this year.

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