Former Real Madrid and Inter Milan player Wesley Sneijder says he won the 2010 Ballon d’Or against Lionel Messi.
Wesley Sneijder enjoyed a very good crusade in 2009/10, when Jose Mourinho’s Inter won the treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and the Champions League.
Sneijder’s Netherlands lost the 2010 World Cup final to Spain in South Africa.
Messi won La Liga in 2009/10 and the Champions League in 2009 and 2011, before winning his Ballon d’Or.
The Batavian finished fourth on the final list of electors for the 2010 trophy. Messi received 22 percent of the vote, ahead of Barcelona teammates Andres Iniesta (17 percent), Xavi (16 percent) and Sneijder (14 percent).
The frustration over Messi’s victory remains a sore subject for Sneijder, who retired from football in 2019, but the defeat to Spain in the final is the biggest regret of his career.
“ It was a bit unfair that I didn’t win the 2010 Ballon d’Or and Messi did,” he said in an interview with Egyptian channel Alhayah TV.
“But I’m not the type to cry about it.” 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 that I won. I am very satisfied with this title.
“We deserved to win the 2010 final against Spain, but the Spaniards beat us. Reaching the final was a glorious achievement that I dreamed of and I’m still heartbroken that I lost.
Sneijder’s fourth place finish in 2010 is the only time in his career he has finished in the top ten in the Ballon d’Or rankings.