It was clear: Zinedine Zidane reveals the Ballon d’Or award rigged for Messi

The Ballon d’Or award is regarded as the most prestigious award in the world of football and it’s a dream of all players to end up on the podium.

2024 saw the award face backlash from some football lovers as Manchester City midfielder Rodri was named winner ahead of Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian was the heavy favourite going into the 2024 ceremony, but ended up snubbing the gala after being made aware that Manchester City star Rodri was going to win the award.

While the football have since been silent on the result, legendary midfielder Zinedine Zidane has named the player he believed was robbed of winning the Ballon d’Or.

According to Zidane, the recipient of the 2010 Ballon d’Or should’ve been someone other than eventual claimant, Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi reacts after being awarded the the Ballon d’Or award during the 2021 Ballon d’Or France Football award ceremony (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking ahead of the Spaniard’s final El Clasico as a Barcelona player, Zidane stated that Andres Iniesta deserved to have won the 2010 award over his Barcelona teammate.

“It is difficult because if you like football, seeing a player like him leave is tough. don’t think of him as a Barcelona player. I see him simply as a football player. I only have good words for him, admiration for his football and I wish him the best as a player for the future but above all, as a person.

“We’re talking about someone who made everyone dream and he deserved to win the Ballon d’Or, especially in the year he won the World Cup. It was clear then that he deserved it.”

Iniesta ended up finishing as the runner-up, despite the fact he played a pivotal role for Barcelona and the Spanish national team that season. He scored the winning goal in that year’s World Cup final against the Netherlands.