An investigation Suspects Messi ‘crowned with Golden Ball
Agencies – Sudan Events
The French newspaper Le Monde revealed an investigation into allegations that Paris Saint-Germain pressured Pascal Ferret, the former editor-in-chief of France Football, to award the Golden Ball to Lionel Messi in 2021.
Messi won the Golden Ball award, which France Football magazine gives annually to the best football player in the world, in the year 2021 for the seventh time in his career, when the Argentine star was defending the colors of the Parisian club.
At that time, Messi surpassed Polish star Robert Lewandowski, who was shining in the German ranks of Bayern Munich.
Le Monde newspaper said in a report: “There is an ongoing judicial investigation into Paris Saint-Germain’s activities aimed at promoting Messi’s award in 2021.”
It added: “According to the investigation, between 2020 and 2021, Pascal Ferret received invitations from Saint-Germain to attend major matches in the VIP hall (at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris), in addition to an all-expenses-paid trip to Doha.”
According to the report, all these gifts were presented to the editor-in-chief of France Football magazine at the time, with the aim of putting pressure on Messi to win the Golden Ball noting that Pascal Ferret now holds the position of media director for the Parisian team.
Messi played for Paris Saint-Germain during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 seasons, before he left last summer after his contract expired and moved to Inter Miami in the United States.
It is noteworthy that at the end of last year, Messi was crowned with the record eighth Golden Balls in his career, after leading the Argentine national team to win the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar.
