England's only Ballon d'Or voter has revealed his reasons for voting for Lionel Messi at the recent award ceremony.
On Monday night, Messi made history as he was awarded his eighth Ballon d'Or title after pipping Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to the accolade.
There was much debate as to whether Messi deserved to claim the award solely for his performances in the 2022 World Cup, where he captained Argentina to victory.
Some have suggested that Messi was favoured due to the fact it will, likely, be the last time that he can win the award.
However, The Times' Henry Winter has suggested that his voting for Messi was not for 'nostalgia' and, rather, because of the Inter Miami star's impressive performances.
Writing for the newspaper, Winter said: 'In assessing and selecting the Ballon d’Or, inevitably much weight is placed on success in the Champions League and in tournaments.
'The game is about trophies, and Messi’s performance in Qatar sealed first place and six points from this judge. Messi was on a mission out there, absolutely driven with the obsession of winning the World Cup. Messi’s career, even one as glittering as his, with four Champions Leagues, needed this nirvana in Qatar'.
It had been well documented throughout Messi's career, prior to the tournament last December, that the only major trophy to elude him was the World Cup.
For a long time, Messi had never won anything with his national side but he put that to bed after winning the Copa America in 2021 before the World Cup a year later.
'By any metric, Messi was the most effective combatant in the most important competition in sport,' Winter continued. 'But Messi is about so much more than numbers. He is about the poetry.
'He is about that astonishing explosion of pace to whisk the ball away from a defender as good as Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol in the semi-final on December 13 at Lusail Stadium'.
Come the end of the tournament, Messi was the competition's second top scorer, had the joint-most assists and the most chances created.
Winter later explained that he opted for Manchester City's Haaland in second and PSG's Mbappe in third, after putting Messi forward for the title.
'I gave second place, and four points, to Haaland, whose industrial-scale plundering of goals (52) and trophies (the Treble) for Manchester City were phenomenal and brought him the football writers’ and PFA player of the year honours in England'.
Haaland narrowly missed out on winning the Ballon d'Or but still claimed the Gerd Muller trophy after scoring the most goals out of any player in the year.
Former PSG player Jerome Rothen said Messi's triumph was 'disgraceful' and that the Norwegian was far more deserving of the award.
Joshwill1123
580
Jamal being rubbed is not being talked about enough
JoyNg01
576
New victim of FIFA SON👌😂😂
gegson
316
Messi in 2060,winning his 44th balon d'or after scoring two goals whole playing with his granddaughter at his backyard
JoyNg01
288
2010: - Messi: 60 G/A - Xavi and Iniesta: World Cup - Ballon d’Or winner: Messi 2023: - Haaland: 71 G/A plus a Treble - Messi: World Cup - Ballon d’Or winner: Messi If this doesn't explain the favouritism Messi had in all these years,I don't know what will. No other explanation than Robbery as usual🛑🙁🙁👌
Wizlmopr
16
New victim of FIFA SON👌😂😂
[image]
its really confusing...how many father u have🤔🤔
Buhnad
12
Messi in 2060,winning his 44th balon d'or after scoring two goals whole playing with his granddaughter at his backyard
[image]
If I had a photo of you I would’ve posted u in 2064 still crying 😂😂
ZackieNowell
11
Earned not Given👌🔥 GOAT not FIFA Son👌🔥🔥 Best in history without a single competitor🐐🙏👑🇵🇹🤍❤️
[image]
Best in history but has never played a world cup final? Best in history but cries whenever Messi is chanted at him? Best in history but Adidas doesn't believe so? Best in history and he wasnt nominated in Ballon D'or? Be deceiving yourself
Puwcnstu
10
New victim of FIFA SON👌😂😂
[image]
Your father is pierce morgan right?? 🤣🤣.
Poeaimrsz
10
Jamal being rubbed is not being talked about enough
[image]
They almost got me beaten when I talked about this .. Ronaldo fans are the most biased fans base .. they are only obsessed with Messi winning the award forgetting Jamal was robbed for their player which they pretend not to realize!!
Wewouldbefine
9
New victim of FIFA SON👌😂😂
[image]
The one with black cloth is You 😂
truefanbarca/Gun
9
New victim of FIFA SON👌😂😂
[image]
what's funny to me is that even the so call famous people who don't know that this is not a fifa award and it's France football award