Xavi Hernandez, the legendary former midfielder of FC Barcelona, reflected on the 2010 Ballon d'Or, asserting that Lionel Messi rightfully deserved the award over him. Despite a stellar year where Xavi contributed significantly to Spain's World Cup victory and Barcelona's La Liga title, he finished third in the voting behind Messi and Andres Iniesta. Xavi praised Messi's exceptional talent, stating, "For me, there's no comparison, no debate." In the 2010 season, Xavi scored 7 goals and provided 20 assists in 53 appearances for Barcelona, while Messi had an outstanding season with 47 goals and 12 assists. Xavi's humility highlights the respect he holds for Messi's abilities, reinforcing the notion that individual accolades often reflect team success and exceptional talent.