Posted by The 2010 Ballon d’Or winner Wesley Sneijder was deposed by Lionel Messi, according to Jose Mourinho, a former manager of Chelsea and AS Roma.
While Messi was rightfully named the winner that year, Mourinho remarked on the Vibe with Five podcast that Sneijder should have been nominated for a spot in the top three.
In 2010, Messi beat out Sneijder to win the Ballon d’Or while Mourinho was manager of Inter Milan.
At the time, the Argentine just beat out Sneijder, who seemed like the ideal candidate for the Ballon d’Or after winning the Treble (Champions League, Serie A, and the Italian Cup).
The word “robbed” is one that Mourinho prefers not to use. Messi, who took home the Ballon d’Or? I was not robbed.
In the same season, though, Wesley won the Champions League and, I believe, the World Cup. When Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from the previous generation won the Ballon d’Or, it was never stolen, hence Wesley should be in the top three.
Barcelona greats Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez rounded out Messi’s top three in the 2010 Ballon d’Or final power rankings, but Wesley Sneijder was left out.