Carles Puyol has claimed that it would be a “huge injustice” if his former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi did not win the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or.
Messi has been heavily tipped to win the award for a record fifth time at Monday’s gala in Zurich, and Puyol believes the Argentine has what it takes to dominate the podium for years to come.
“It’d be a surprise and huge injustice if Messi didn’t win the Ballon d’Or,” the retired defender told Barca TV.
“The best thing about him is that he’s still evolving and breaking more and more records.
“Now he’s more complete and doesn’t appear to have a ceiling [as to how good he can be].
“There’s hardly any other player worthy of five Ballon d’Ors, but Leo Messi won’t be retiring any time soon, and if he wins on Monday and continues like this, he can keep winning the [Ballon d’Or].
“If [Barca] continue with their desire and don’t lose humility, they could defend [the Champions League].
“It’s difficult, that’s for sure, because you can have a bad day at the office or an injury, but if there’s a team capable of doing so, it’s this one.
“It’s very hard to find [a forward line] like [the ‘MSN’], with the complicity they have.
“We shouldn’t be fooled and surprised by how well they get along.
“If they didn’t have such a relationship, the club wouldn’t have won what they had and wouldn’t be as they are now.
“[Luis Enrique] is a person with a huge heart. He is direct and would never deceive you.
“The players appreciate him and it shows because his complicity with the entire squad is very good.
“Ultimately, honesty is very important for any dressing room.”
