BARCELONA: Argentine star Lionel Messi on Thursday dismissed talk that defeating his Barcelona team-mates Andres Iniesta and Xavi in the race for the Ballon d’Or had strained his relationship with the Spanish pair.
“I don’t care what people say. I have the respect and the recognition of my team-mates. All my colleagues congratulated me and were happy for me and that is what is the most important for me,” he told a news conference.
“I am aware that without my team-mates I could not win these prizes. We know what our relationship is and how we get along. The relationship is the same. I am fine with Andres and with Xavi. I have a good relationship with both.”
Messi was selected ahead of his two Barcelona team-mates at a ceremony in Switzerland on Monday. It was the second straight year that he collected the prize.
The Argentinian forward had been expected to lose out to either one of the two, who won the World Cup with Spain in July, after he endured a modest run at the tournament where he failed to score.
Messi, Iniesta and Xavi received a standing ovation from Barcelona fans on Wednesday when they took to the field before the start of their side’s 5-0 Spanish King’s Cup victory at home over Second Division leaders Real Betis.
The Argentine forward hit a hat-trick in what was his first game since winning the Ballon d’Or.
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