LIONEL MESSI has “no doubt” that he should miss out on this year’s Ballon d’Or.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward, a seven-time winner, controversially pipped Robert Lewandowski to the award in 2021.
However, he is adamant that Karim Benzema should get it next time around after he fired Real Madrid to the Champions League.
The 34-year-old striker is the favourite following his 44 goals in 46 matches for Los Blancos.
And Messi told Argentine TV station TyC Sports that the French star was a shoo-in.
He said: “I think there are no doubts this year.
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“It is very clear that Benzema had a spectacular year and ended up victorious in the Champions League, being essential from the last 16 onwards in all the games.”
Messi then addressed the furore regarding the two previous awards.
Bayern Munich’s Lewandowski was the hot favourite to lift the 2020 crown before the showpiece was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Messi then beat him to the prize last year – even though he urged authorities to give Lewandowski the 2020 award.
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The Pole admitted his disappointment at Messi winning over him – to which the South American legend has now responded by saying he has no interest in what his rival says on the matter.
He said: “Obviously he can express himself and say what he wants. I honestly don’t share what he said but I didn’t give it much importance either.
“That’s it, it stayed there and he can say what he wants and I’m not interested.
“But the words I said at that moment were from the heart and because I really felt that way.
“I said he deserved the Ballon d’Or before, because the year before I thought he was the best, but the year I won it was not the best. I just said that.”
