Messi: “The Copa América allowed me to win the Ballon d’Or”

Leo Messi became the first player in history to win the Ballon d’Or seven times in Paris. The Argentine star defeated Lewandowski and Jorginho in the final vote, winning an award that has once again recognized him as the best player in football history. At a press conference, the PSG star said he was very happy, in addition to confirming that it was the Copa América that has helped him win the award.

Lewandowski: “I think he had a great year, every year that he surpasses and shows what kind of forward he is. He can opt for it next year because of how he is and besides he is in a great club ”.

If someone is going to surpass their seven awards: “I don’t know if anyone will get over it or not. There is always someone who breaks the records, that’s what they are for. I don’t know if he will get over it or not, but it is an impressive thing to have succeeded. I am very happy to be in Paris and to be able to compete for all the titles again and to try to fight. As I just said with Lewandowski, he has a lot of opportunities because he shows what he is as a player every year. He has been doing a spectacular level for many years. I’m sure next year he’s going to fight for this ”.

What made the difference for him to win the Ballon d’Or: “Beyond not being able to win the Champions League and La Liga, although we won the Copa del Rey, but I think that winning the Copa América was important. I am proud to win this with the PSG jersey. The truth is that it is very special and it is an honor for me to win the Ballon d’Or ”.

His family and his children and the feelings: “As I said before, it is special in that sense, because in other years I always believed that I lacked the objectives with the national team. He had been very close, but he couldn’t have gotten it until last July. It was a special year for me in that sense. And this award gives me a lot of strength at this stage of my life to face it in the best possible way next year. Regarding my family, my children, who are special, enjoyed it very much. They had the nerves of whether he was going to win it or not. I really enjoy seeing my children happy, being able to enjoy with my wife, my brothers, my father… Enjoying it very much and now we will continue doing it as a family ”.

If it was the best year of his career for the national team and if he would choose to lose two America’s Cups to win the one in Brazil: “I don’t know if it was worth the wait or not. I would have liked to win those two and win in Brazil. Not going through the World Cup final against Germany in Brazil. It was a very special America’s Cup because of how everything happened. We ended up reaching a final against Brazil with what that means and to be able to win it at Maracana, after so many years, was something extraordinary. We really enjoyed ourselves. I am very happy to be able to share this with all the people of Argentina, I would also love to show it in my country as I previously did with Barcelona. As I say and I repeat. It is very special for having achieved the dream of the Copa América for so many years. We have had a lot of bad moments in the national team, having lost so many finals, having received so much criticism … But not lowering our arms. Thank God it was possible.

The eighth after the Qatar World Cup: “I dont know. I’m delighted, I never tire of saying it, a large part of this has been for the America’s Cup. This is for the entire group beyond being an individual award, it is something that was achieved collectively. Without the Copa América I don’t know if I would have won the award. I think we are doing very well. It has been a long time since we lived something like this in Argentina and people are living to the full. People celebrated it as it deserved after so many years without having won it. We have a while to continue growing, I think we are on the right track. There are good teams at the World level to which we are not yet up to par, but have no doubt that we are going to do everything possible to fight for that dream that we all love so much. “

If you think the eighth would not be bad: “I always said it. I think the most important thing is the prizes at the collective level. Having won the Copa América allowed me to win the seventh Ballon d’Or. I always think about group goals. I changed clubs all my life being in the same place, adapting to my new club and my new city, in which I am happy to do so and spend this moment. This gives me a lot of strength to face next year with the challenges we have. We are very excited. We have the best in the world and little by little we are growing at the group and individual level. We will fight for the collective objectives without thinking about the eighth ”.