Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner believes Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema would be the worthy recipient of the award of the world’s best player.
No one has won more Ballon d’Ors than Messi, who in the view of many is the greatest player of all time.
The Argentine superstar won the award last year but endured a disappointing season in his maiden campaign at Paris Saint-Germain since making the switch from FC Barcelona.
Benzema is many people’s favourite for the accolade this year, having scored 27 league goals and 15 in the Champions League to guide Los Blancos to the La Liga title and the Champions League title.
It was not only the sheer volume of goals scored by the French striker but the importance including a hat-trick against Messi’s PSG in the quarterfinals to overturn a 2-0 aggregate deficit and a vital brace in the turnaround against Manchester City in the semifinals.
“There’s no doubt, it’s very clear that Benzema has had a spectacular year and has ended it by winning the Champions League,” Messi told Argentine channel TyC Sports.
“He was crucial from the last-16 onwards in every match and I think there’s no doubt that Benzema deserves to win the Ballon d’Or.”
Messi is preparing to face Italy on Wednesday night for his native Argentina in an international friendly.
