Ballon d''Or snub was no extra motivation: Messi

MADRID, December 9

Lionel Messi insisted his fifth-place finish in the Ballon d'Or awards was not a motivating factor behind his sensational performance against Espanyol.

Messi, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, did not make the podium for the first time in a decade with Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric given the trophy.

"No," said Barca captain Messi when asked if he had extra motivation for the game because of the awards snub. "We all came out fired-up from the start, really focused and determined. We knew (we had to because of) the stadium we were coming to and the opponents we were facing, they are having a great season," he added. Messi's team mates praised him, disagreeing with his placement in the Ballon d'Or rankings and the words of Brazil legend Pele who said the forward only has one foot and one skill. “Pele must not be able to see very well if he said what he said about Messi," Barcelona full back Jordi Alba said. — Reuters