Lionel Messi aims dig at Cristiano Ronaldo over Ballon d’Or record | CPT PPP Coverage

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The 36-year-old has enjoyed an excellent start to life in America, scoring 11 goals in 13 appearances and helping them win the Leagues Cup.

Lionel Messi has appeared to aim a subtle dig at Cristiano Ronaldo by saying that his record of seven Ballon d’Or titles might not be beaten for the foreseeable future.

Messi is on course to claim his eighth award this year after inspiring Argentina to a FIFA World Cup win in 2022, which will put him three clear of his arch-nemesis Ronaldo’s five titles.

Ronaldo has not been nominated for the first time since 2004. Messi won his seventh Ballon d’Or two years ago in 2021 and said after the ceremony he was confident that nobody, including his closest rival Ronaldo, would be able to surpass his record.

“I don’t know if the record is beatable,” he claimed. “I just have to accept it but I’m not sure if it can be beaten. seven is really impressive.” 

Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or five times, with his last triumph coming in 2017, and has finished runner-up on six occasions.

However, at the age of 38 and now plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr, it seems unlikely he will win the award again, particularly after not making this year’s shortlist. 

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Messi, meanwhile, has already given his thoughts on a potential eighth Ballon d’Or having been asked about it after signing for MLS side Inter Miami this summer.

“I have said it many times, the Ballon d’Or is very important due to the recognition at the individual level, but I never gave it importance,” he said. “The most important thing for me was always the awards at the group level.

“I was lucky to have achieved everything in my career and after the World Cup, I’m thinking about that award much less, my biggest award was that and I’m disguising my moment. If it arrives, good, and if not, nothing happens. I was lucky to achieve all my goals in my career and now I have new goals with this club.”

The 20-year-old midfielder has taken his game to a completely new level since joining Real Madrid in the summer, but Wayne Rooney has revealed concern about it.

The 36-year-old has enjoyed an excellent start to life in America, scoring 11 goals in 13 appearances and helping them win the Leagues Cup. 

However, Miami did fail to make the MLS play-offs and Messi is already looking ahead to next season.

“It’s a shame,” he said. “We came very close. I missed the last few games. We had several injuries. The month of July was very hard for us. 

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“We played every three days, and we travelled. But we won a tournament, which is important for the club and for what is coming next year.

“It is the first time that I am going to have more days off in December, with the holidays, with peace of mind, with my people. In January, I will return again to do pre-season. Start from scratch and prepare as best as possible, as always.”