The dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has been used by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola to justify Xavi and Iniesta’s inability to win the Ballon d’Or during their playing careers.
Two of the greatest midfielders of their generation, Xavi and Iniesta, have won numerous trophies with Barça, two European Championships, and the FIFA World Cup, achieving unheard-of success in club and international football. But the two luminaries never made it to the top of the podium because of the ongoing Ballon d’Or duopoly.
The time of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has been amazing, and anyone can win the Ballon d’Or, Guardiola said, adding that Xavi and Iniesta might have won it on their own.
Guardiola said, “Cristiano (Ronaldo) was a monster, and the father of the monster is (Lionel) Messi. And both have done something incredible in the last 15, or 20 years. And maybe in that moment, Xavi and Iniesta deserved the #BallonDor as well…
“You know that the era of Cristiano and Messi has been unbelievable how they shared it, well deserved it, and they were on another level. And now, it’s another era, and everyone can win the Ballon d’Or, and in the end, the opinion is free…”
