Alongside Messi, Ronaldo — Guardiola names 2 players who should have won Ballon d'Or

Pep Guardiola, widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time, with a proven track record of winning and managing some of the best talents in the game's history.

His time at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City saw him manage players who either won the prestigious Ballon d'Or or were in contention.

Manchester City midfield general, Rodri, won the award in 2024, and Guardiola reflected on two former players he believed deserved the award: Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

The duo were pivotal to the dominant Barcelona team of the late 2000s to early 2010s, forming a midfield trio with Sergio Busquets.

Guardiola said: “Cristiano (Ronaldo) was a monster, and the father of the monster is (Lionel) Messi. Both have done something incredible in the last 15 or 20 years.

"Maybe in that moment, Xavi and Iniesta deserved the Ballon d’Or as well. So I think Rodri (winning the Ballon d’Or) got what Spanish football deserved worldwide.”

In 2010, Messi won the Ballon d'Or ahead of Iniesta and Xavi, who had stellar seasons with Barcelona and Spain's World Cup victory.

This year's Ballon d'Or could also return to a Spanish club, with Barcelona's Raphinha, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal believed to be frontrunners.