“Ronaldo plays for Portugal, it’s very different” – YouTuber shares interesting opinion on why Lionel Messi should win 2023 Ballon d'Or

Popular Youtuber Anthony Machado says that Lionel Messi should win the Ballon d'Or this year, comparing Messi dawning Argentina colours to Cristiano Ronaldo representing Portugal.

Machado says that the expectations on the Barcelona legend's shoulders moving into the World Cup were far greater than Ronaldo's for Portugal. For that reason, Machado sees Messi pipping Erling Haaland, another leading contender, for the 2023 Ballon d'Or.

On his YouTube channel, MoreAA9skillz Machado said:

"I’m giving it to Messi not because he was better than Haaland. I’m giving it to Messi because of how much it means to his career."

“We all know how much he chased that World Cup and we know how much people would have held against him because when you play for Argentina or Brazil; Ronaldo plays for Portugal, it’s very different."

He added:

"Portugal has never won a World Cup. So no one expected him to carry Portugal to a World Cup."

“A lot of times when you play for Brazil, Neymar’s expectation was to win a World Cup. When you play for Argentina, your expectations are to win a World Cup because playing for Argentina and Brazil are like the Barca and Real Madrid. They’re the big boys of international football.”

Messi will have to beat Haaland, a treble winner with Manchester City and the scorer of 52 goals last season, to win a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or.

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Lionel Messi said that Cristiano Ronaldo won't surpass his Ballon d'Or record

Lionel Messi (via Getty Images)

Lionel Messi is likely to win this year's Ballon d'Or after leading Argentina to World Cup success last year. Should he do so, it will be the 36-year-old than arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi sais after his seventh win in 2021 that the task to surpass his tally would be nearly improbable even for Ronaldo. Aout his record being beaten, the former PSG star said (via Mirror):

"I don't know if the record is beatable. I just have to accept it but I'm not sure if it can be beaten. Seven is really impressive."

Messi continues to delight fans after deciding to join Inter Miami in the MLS this summer. He has 11 goals and five assists in 14 appearances across competitions for the Herons.