Arsenal’s Martinelli Backs Jorginho for Ballon d’Or, Ribery Still Bitter Over 2013 Loss
Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli stirred up debate during the 2023/24 season by stating that his teammate Jorginho was more deserving of the 2021 Ballon d’Or than Lionel Messi. In 2021, Italian midfielder Jorginho achieved third place in the Ballon d’Or rankings, trailing behind Robert Lewandowski and the eventual winner, Lionel Messi.
Martinelli highlighted Jorginho’s strengths, expressing his admiration for the player’s skills and impact. He believes Jorginho’s accomplishments in 2021 warranted the prestigious award, even going so far as to say he “deserved to win the Ballon d’Or a while ago.” This statement came as a surprise to some, considering Messi’s widespread acclaim and statistical achievements that year.
In the 2020-21 season, Jorginho played a pivotal role for both club and country. His accomplishments included:
- Winning the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea.
- Securing victory in the European Championships with the Italian national team in the summer of 2021.
Throughout that season, Jorginho made 43 appearances for Chelsea, contributing eight goals and two assists. In contrast, Lionel Messi, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2021, scored an impressive 38 goals and provided 14 assists.
Despite the difference in attacking statistics, Martinelli’s support for Jorginho underscores the value of midfielders and their often-underappreciated contributions to team success. Martinelli and Jorginho have played together 52 times for Arsenal, demonstrating a strong on-field partnership.
Frank Ribery’s 2013 Ballon d’Or Grievance
In related Ballon d’Or news, former Bayern Munich star Frank Ribery still feels the sting of missing out on the 2013 award. Ribery finished third in the 2013 Ballon d’Or race, behind Lionel Messi (second) and Cristiano Ronaldo (winner). To this day, Ribery maintains that he was unfairly denied the coveted trophy.
Ribery’s frustration stems from what he considers a phenomenal 2012-13 season where he achieved significant team success:
- Champions League Title with Bayern Munich.
- Bundesliga Title with Bayern Munich.
Individually, Ribery contributed 22 goals and 18 assists in 52 appearances across club and international competitions. Despite this, he was overlooked for the Ballon d’Or, leading him to believe that the award was unjust.
Ribery emphasized his achievements in an interview, asserting that “Messi and Ronaldo were not better than me in 2013.” He considers the 2013 Ballon d’Or outcome an “injustice” and finds it difficult to understand why he was not chosen, especially given his “perfect year.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the 2013 Ballon d’Or, enjoyed a goal-rich season with 66 goals and 15 assists in 56 games for Real Madrid and Portugal. Lionel Messi, meanwhile, recorded 42 goals and 15 assists in 45 matches for Barcelona and Argentina.
Do you agree with Martinelli’s assessment of Jorginho’s Ballon d’Or chances, or Ribery’s view on his 2013 snub? Share your thoughts in the comments below!