The lingering disappointment of Wesley Sneijder, an Inter Milan and Real Madrid legend, over losing the Ballon d’Or to Lionel Messi is a story that continues to resonate. Sneijder, who had an exceptional 2010, remains affected, especially as Messi claimed the award for the 8th time in 2023.
The 2010 Ballon d’Or stirred controversy as many believed Sneijder deserved the accolade, having clinched three prestigious trophies for Inter Milan: the Italian League, Coppa Italia, and Champions League.
Moreover, Sneijder played a pivotal role in steering the Dutch national team to the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa, despite their defeat against Spain. However, Messi, though performing impressively for Barcelona, solely won the La Liga title for his club that year.
In the final tally, Sneijder was placed fourth, with Messi securing first place with 22% of the votes, followed by Iniesta (17%), Xavi (16%), and then Sneijder (14%).
Reflecting on this, Sneijder expressed a sense of unfairness but maintained his respect for the winner. He emphasized the collective triumph of winning the Champions League, indicating a preference for team achievements over individual accolades.
“Winning the Ballon d’Or felt a bit unfair; I respect Messi’s victory. But my joy lies in collective success rather than individual recognition,” Sneijder remarked in an interview with Alhayah TV.
Moreover, Sneijder’s disappointment was compounded by the Dutch team’s loss to Spain in the World Cup final, although he acknowledged Spain’s prowess.
“The defeat still lingers; it was a heartbreaking loss,” he admitted.
Sneijder’s account unveils the enduring hurt of missing out on personal recognition despite a stellar year, underscoring the complexities of individual honors in a team-centric sport.
