Puyol: Messi is reason Xavi hasn't won Ballon d'Or

Puyol: Messi is reason Xavi hasn't won Ballon d'Or

Published Jan. 10, 2012 8:32 a.m. ET

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol says Xavi Hernandez would likely have already won the Ballon d'Or if Lionel Messi wasn't his teammate.

Puyol, speaking a day after the Argentina forward claimed his third straight FIFA player of the year award, says ''if Messi wasn't here than surely he would have won at least one Ballon d'Or.''

Xavi and Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo were the other candidates.

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