"I consider it a lack of respect" - When Carlo Ancelotti hit back at Sepp Blatter for comments on Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
Carlo Ancelotti was unhappy with Sepp Blatter's comments on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013. The Real Madrid manager claimed that the then-FIFA president showed a lack of respect towards the Portuguese superstar.
Speaking to the media in 2013, Ancelotti shared that Real Madrid were set to send a letter to FIFA as Blatter had disrespected Ronaldo. He believed the Swiss mocking the Portugal icon and praising Messi was not right and said (via the Daily Mail):
"I consider it a lack of respect. I know that our president has sent a letter to FIFA, asking that they rectify this lack of respect to a player who is very serious and professional. I’m in complete agreement with our president."
Sepp Blatter issued an apology on X and said he never meant to hurt Ronaldo. He claimed it was a light-hearted moment and praised the Manchester United legend as one of the best talents in the game.
What did Sepp Blatter say about Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi?
Sepp Blatter was at the Oxford Union when he was quizzed about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He acknowledged that he preferred the Argentine ace over his Portuguese rival. While Blatter called the Real Madrid legend a commander on the pitch, Messi was praised as a son every mother wants.
"They are both exceptional players but are totally different. Football is about the difference between stars. Lionel Messi is a good boy that every father, every mother would like to have at home. He is very quick, he is not exuberant, he plays well, he is a good boy. That is what makes him so popular, because he is this nice man and that is why he gets votes," he said (via the Daily Mail).
"The other one [Ronaldo], he is something else, he is like a commander on the field of play. This is the other side of football and it is good to have such commanders on the field also. That gives life to football. One has more expenses for the hairdresser than the other, but that doesn’t matter. I cannot say who is the best, there will be a contest this year and then January next year it will be announced. I like both of them, but I prefer Messi," Blatter added.
Cristiano Ronaldo went on to win the 2014 Ballon d'Or by collecting 37.66% of the votes. Lionel Messi came second with 15.76% while Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer finished third with 15.72%.