Paris Saint-Germain forward, Lionel Messi has said Real Madrid was prepared to reach the Champions League finals while claiming that the La Liga champions were not the best team this season.
Real Madrid had, over the weekend, won their 14th Champions League trophy after beating Liverpool 1-0 in the final in Paris.
Vinicius Junior scored the only goal of the match to ensure Real Madrid defeated Liverpool at the Stade de France.
Speaking to Argentinian broadcaster TYC, “The Real Madrid game killed us. The best team doesn’t always win.
“Without taking anything away from Madrid, because they are the champions of Europe and they are always there or thereabouts, but they were not the best team of this Champions League.
“The Champions League is about situations, key moments, psychological moments that take a team, where the slightest error can eliminate you and those who are best prepared for those situations end up winning or reaching the final.”
He further said Karim Benzema deserves to win the Ballon d’Or this year after helping to guide his team to the Champions League title.
Benzema had the best season of his 13-year career at Real, scoring 44 goals with 15 assists in all competitions as they won a LaLiga-Champions League double.
The 34-year-old topped the scoring charts in both competitions and netted hat-tricks against Paris St Germain and Chelsea in the knockout stages to secure Real’s progress.
“There are no doubts, it’s very clear that Benzema had a spectacular year and ended up victorious in the Champions League,” PSG forward Messi said on Argentine television.
“He was fundamental in all the matches from the round of 16 onwards. I think there is no doubt this year.”
The Ballon d’Or award for the best soccer player in the world will be presented on October 17, with the nominees set to be revealed on 12 August.
The prestigious trophy will now be awarded on the basis of a regular-season from August to July rather than a calendar year.
