French champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have been reportedly accused of lobbying the Ballon d’Or organisers to make sure the coveted award went to Lionel Messi throughout his World Cup winner’s time with the membership.
Argentine skipper Messi spent two years within the French capital after leaving his childhood membership FC Barcelona in 2021. Messi, who at present performs for Inter Miami within the MLS, holds the report of successful the Ballon d’Or eight occasions — probably the most by any participant.
For the unversed, the Ballon d’Or is introduced by French information journal France Soccer. Messi’s stature as ‘GOAT’ was solidified by his recurring reception of the identical, amongst different components. When he lifted his seventh Ballon d’Or in 2021, Leo was a part of PSG — probably the most profitable workforce in France.
“The sixty fifth France Soccer Ballon d’Or has been awarded to Leo Messi. Profitable the celebrated award for a report seventh time, the Paris Saint-Germain striker is continuous to make historical past. The 34-year-old Argentinian prodigy obtained the trophy for the most effective footballer of the 12 months on the Ballon d’Or 2021 ceremony held on Monday 29 November on the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris,” a launch printed on PSG’s web site on November 30, 2021, stated.
In response to information studies, PSG tried to affect Pascal Ferre, the previous editor-in-chief of France Soccer and organiser of the Ballon d’Or, to make sure Messi received the award whereas he was a part of the Ligue 1 workforce. A participant belonging to their squad successful the award means loads to soccer golf equipment as it might probably herald essential fortunes when it comes to advertising and marketing and picture.
In response to French media Le Monde, a judicial investigation opened by the Paris prosecutor’s workplace in 2022 confirmed that PSG’s communications director between 2017 and 2022 Jean-Martial Ribes, its proprietor, the Qatar Sports activities Investments (QSI), lobbyist Tayeb Benabderrahmane and former French anti-terrorist police officer turned PSG worker Malik Nait-Liman had been the key gamers concerned in “affairs” surrounding the membership. When Jean-Martial Ribes’s actions had been centered, it was learnt that “Ribes requested to acquire tickets for PSG soccer matches by journalists, politicians, elected officers, members of ministerial cupboards or the presidency, artists,” the report stated.
Extra particulars are awaited.
