Lionel Messi's U-turn on his thoughts about winning another Ballon d'Or is interesting, especially now that the Argentine legend is set to receive his record-eighth golden ball
Lionel Messi is set to receive his record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or next week - but it seems as if the legendary forward isn't worried too much about the award.
"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, between quotes, the most important thing for me was always the awards at the group level," Messi said previously. "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.
In 2017, Messi, then playing for Barcelona, revealed he was "hurt" after Ronaldo won his fifth Ballon d'Or and matched his total for most ever. He has since performed a U-turn on his stance on the importance of the award, which sums up where his priorities lie. When Messi won his seventh Ballon d'Or in 2021, the 36-year-old expressed doubt after the ceremony that he or anyone else could ever win another trophy can surpass his tally of seven.