Cristian Romero: Lionel Messi should win the Ballon dOr every year until he retires

Cristian Romero believes Lionel Messi should be awarded the Ballon d’Or every year until the Argentina captain decides to end his remarkable career.

Romero, now a defender for Atletico de Madrid, has played alongside Messi for Argentina over the past five years. The pair lifted the World Cup together in 2022 and reached the final of the competition earlier this year.

The defender has long regarded Messi as one of the greatest players in football history. He now says there should be no debate over who deserves the sport’s leading individual award while Messi remains active.

“The Ballon d’Or should go to Messi. Until he retires, that is clear,” Romero told ESPN, in comments published by The Sun.

“There is nobody like Messi. Certainly, when he decides to stop playing, then we will have to see who we give it to.”

Romero also suggested that commercial appeal could influence the award once Messi’s career is over.

“When he decides to retire, we will see who we give it to… the player with the greatest marketing power, because that is involved to some extent,” he said.

Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists for Argentina at this year’s World Cup. However, the 2022 champions were unable to retain the title after losing 1-0 to Spain in the final.

The 2022 World Cup victory remains the biggest achievement of Messi’s international career, with the forward having also led Argentina to the Copa America title in 2021. The source article states that he retired from international football last month and is now concentrating on his club career in the United States with Inter Miami.

Romero, meanwhile, recently completed his move from Tottenham to Atletico de Madrid for £34.2m.

His comments underline the esteem in which Messi continues to be held by his Argentina team-mates, despite the forward having stepped away from international football. Romero’s view is that the Ballon d’Or should remain with Messi for as long as he continues to play, with the question of his successor only becoming relevant after his retirement.