Lionel Messi believes Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez deserved to be named among the finalists for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
The Argentina international was named as one of the three players up for the prestigious individual prize on Monday, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar the other two.
That meant there was no room for Suarez, the third member of Barca’s three-man attack.
Between them, they have scored 125 goals in 2015 so far, with the Uruguayan contributing 40 of them – including several important strikes as Barca clinched the treble last season.
“I’d have liked to be on Ballon d’Or podium with Ney and Luis,” Messi said at the La Liga awards ceremony on Monday night where he was named as the league’s best player for the 2014-15 campaign.
“Luis deserved it because of the season he had. You have to credit Cristiano as well, who also deserved it. We’ll have a good time [at the FIFA gala].”
In addition to his best player award, Messi also scooped the award for best forward in Spain’s top flight last season.
Accepting his trophies, he said: “I’d like to dedicate this award to my son, Thiago.
