Barcelona defender Gerard Pique feels club-mate Lionel Messi should have been awarded the World Footballer of the Year title each season since 2009.
Messi on Sunday completed his 500th goal for the Catalan football powerhouse Barcelona as they defeated Sevilla 2-1 in La Liga.
Messi has bagged the coveted Ballon d'Or award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015 -- his tally is highest in world football.
"If the Ballon d'Or were given to the best player in the world. Leo would have won it every year since 2009. He's on another level," Pique wrote in Spanish on Twitter.
--IANS
dm/pur/vt
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
