"Cristiano Ronaldo was a monster, and the father of the monster is Lionel Messi" - Pep Guardiola on Xavi and Andres Iniesta not winning Ballon d'Or
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has explained why Xavi and Andres Iniesta didn't win the Ballon d'Or, thanks to multiple-time winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Two of the best midfielders of their generation, Xavi and Iniesta enjoyed unprecedented success in club and international football with Barcelona and Spain respectively. The duo won two European Championships and the FIFA World Cup with La Roja and multiple titles with Barca, including two continental trebles.
However, with Ronaldo and Messi's Ballon d'Or duopoly ongoing at the time, the two Spanish legends never finished atop the podium. Between 2008 and 2017, Ronaldo and Messi won an unprecedented five Ballon d'Or awards apiece.
Explaining the duo's dominance of the prestigious individual award, legendary City boss Guardiola said (as per City Xtra):
"Cristiano (Ronaldo) was a monster, and the father of the monster is (Lionel) Messi. And both have done something incredible in the last 15, 20 years. And maybe in that moment, Xavi and Iniesta deserved the #BallonDor as well..."
The 2024 edition of the Ballon d'Or marked an end of an era of sorts, as neither Messi or Ronaldo - who have a combined 13 wins between them - made the 30-man shortlist. Guardiola remarked:
"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 at the end the opinion is free..."
City midfielder Rodri beat Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior for the coveted award for his sterling exploits with club and country. After winning three titles with the Cityzens last season - including an unprecedented fourth straight Premier League - he helped Spain win a record fourth European title at Euro 2024.
A look at Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's Ballon d'Or wins
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are widely regarded as the two best players and most lethal goalscorers of all time. The duo have scored over 800 goals for club and country - Messi (849) and Ronaldo (907) - and are still going strong.
Having won multiple big titles over their illustrious careers, the duo have had a sparkling Ballon d'Or rivalry. Cristiano Ronaldo beat Lionel Messi to his first Ballon d'Or in 2008 before the Argentine captured the next four.
The Portugal captain won the award in 2013-14 and 2016-17 either side of Messi's fifth win in 2015. Messi would go on to win the Ballon d'Or three more times - 2019, 2021, 2023.