Wesley Sneijder makes bold 2010 Ballon d’Or claim over Lionel Messi

Sneijder finished fourth in the final vote list for the 2010 trophy, with Messi receiving 22% of the vote, ahead of his Barcelona teammates Andres Iniesta (17%) Xavi (16%), with Sneijder on 14%.

The frustration over Messi’s win is still a sore subject for Sneijder, who retired from football in 2019, but defeat to Spain in the final is the greater regret of his career.

“It was a little unfair that I didn’t win the 2010 Ballon d’Or and Messi did“, as per 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.