Former Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder opened up on the 2010 Ballon d’Or which he couldn’t win ahead of FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi despite having a stellar season with his club, Inter Milan and the national team, the Netherlands.
Sneijder, who was Jose Mourinho’s most trusted troop in Milan, was the key to Inter’s gameplan and helped the Italian giants win their first-ever treble — Seria A, Coppa Italia and UEFA Champions League title — and also played the FIFA World Cup 2010 final, which he lost to Spain.
However, despite a legendary season both with the club and the country, the attacking midfielder finished four with just 14% votes behind FC Barcelona’s trio of Messi (22%), Andres Iniesta (17%) and Xavi (16%).
Messi only managed to win La Liga in 2010 and was defeated by Sneijder’s Milan in the semi-final of the UCL and in Copa del Ray, they were defeated by eventual champions Sevilla in Round of 16.
Meanwhile, in the 2010 World Cup, Messi, despite being the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, failed to score a single goal as Argentina were knocked out by Germany in the quarter-finals.
“It was a little unfair that I didn’t win the 2010 Ballon d’Or and Messi did“, Sneijder said in an interview with Egyptian channel Alhayah TV, via Diario AS.
“But, I’m not a guy who cries about that. The Ballon d’Or is an individual award, and I prefer to win collective trophies.
“If I had to choose between the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or, I would choose the Champions League I won, I’m very happy with that title.
“We deserved to win in the 2010 final against Spain, but they were incredible and beat us. Reaching the final was a wonderful achievement that I dreamed of and I’m still heartbroken to have lost.”
Sneijder’s fourth-place spot in 2010 was the sole time he finished inside the top ten Ballon d’Or vote in his career
