Zlatan Ibrahimovic names player who deserved Ballon d'Or 2021 other than Lionel Messi

In Paris on Monday night, Lionel Messi was awarded football's most prestigious award, his record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or. Argentine legend mand to garner more votes than Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and Chelsea midfielder Jorginho who finished second and third respectively. However, re are a few former and current players and coaches who feel that Argentine sensation should t have been awarded this year's Ballon d'Or, including Toni Kroos, Iker Casillas, Lothar Matthaus, Oliver Kahn and Jurgen Klopp, and w Messi's former teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic's name is also added to that list.

When asked about his relationship with Messi, Ibra replied saying that y have a professional relationship, he furr added that Messi 'lives' for football but that this year Argentine superstar did t deserve Ballon d'Or but instead Lewandowski did. Zlatan said: "A professional one. Leo lives for football. But Robert Lewandowski deserved Ballon d'Or this year."

Messi wins Ballon d'Or; Kroos says 't deserved', Klopp says Lewandowski deserved it more

After decision was anunced, Toni Kroos said that Messi did t deserve award. He added that while Messi and Cristia Ronaldo have been best players over last decade, this year re were or players who deserved it more. Kroos said on his podcast: “It is absolutely t deserved. re is doubt that Messi, with Cristia, has been player of last decade, but this year re should've been ors ahead of him." 

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp also did t believe that Messi should have been awarded Ballon d'Or this season and echoed words of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to say that Lewandowski deserved award this time around.

"Do t ask me, it’s your fault n!" Klopp joked when initially asked about results by one reporter in a press conference as quoted by  Daily Mail. "If you think he should be higher up n you should convince your colleagues. You can always give it to Lionel Messi for career he has had and footballer he is but if you don’t give it Lewandowski this time n it’s quite tricky to get it at all. Yes, Mo should definitely have been higher up," Klopp said.

Im: AP/@FranceFootball/Twitter