Piqué: Messi should've won Ballon d'Or every year since '09
Defender Gerard Piqué took to Twitter to heap praise on Leo Messi and criticise the Ballon d'Or after Barcelona's triumph at Sevilla on Sunday. <a title="Sporting vs Barcelona live online: Champions League" href="https://en.as.com/en/2017/09/27/football/1506513491_636306.html ">Sporting vs Barcelona</a>
Gerard Piqué took to social media in praise of Barcelona colleague Leo Messi after the ace was instrumental in Los Azulgranas' 2-1 victory at Sevilla.
Messi hits equaliser then lays on winner
Messi's first-half strike cancelled out Vitolo's opener for hosts Sevilla on Sunday, before the 29-year-old set up Luis Suárez to score Barça's winning goal.
Messi "on another level"
And Piqué, currently out injured, reacted to the display with a tweet seemingly criticising past Ballon d'Ors, while backing Messi to scoop the prize this year.
Si el Balón de Oro se diera al mejor jugador del mundo, Leo lo tendría que haber ganado cada año desde el 2009. Otro nivel.
— Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique) November 6, 2016
"If the Ballon d'Or were given to the best player in the world," he wrote, "Leo would have won it every year since 2009. He's on another level."
Contender for Ballon d'Or and new FIFA gong
The five-time recipient and present holder is among the 30 nominees for the 2016 edition of the accolade, which is no longer associated with FIFA.
The star is also on the 23-man shortlist for The Best FIFA Men's Player award, created by world football's governing body to replace the Ballon d'Or.