Barcelona great Andres Iniesta receives apology from France Football for never awarding Spain magician Ballon d'Or in legendary career
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Barcelona great Andres Iniesta has been given an unprecedented apology from France Football having never been awarded the prestigious Ballon d'Or.
The glittering individual award has eluded the Spain magician despite a legendary career with the Blaugrana and Spanish national team - including four Champions League titles, Euro 2008 and 2012, and the 2010 World Cup.
Speculation has been rife that Iniesta will make a grand exit this summer after 22 years at the Nou Camp, which has led to the game paying tribute to his legacy in Catalonia.
"Perdon Andres" (forgive us Andres) read a piece in the French football magazine, penned by editor Pascal Ferre, in which he describes the omission as a "democratic anomaly."
"What follows is not quite an editorial. it was all agreed on (by France Football) a while ago to avoid any misunderstanding. This is an act of homage," read the apology (h/t Who Ate All The Pies ).
(Image: AFP)
(Image: AFP)
(Image: AFP PHOTO / LLUIS GENELLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images)
(Image: AFP)
"For us, (Iniesta) wasn’t just a player, he was the player.
"His generosity, team play and altruism has certainly deprived him of an even more majestic recognition (the Ballon d’Or).
"He has proven that the brain is definitely the most important thing when it comes to being a champion.
"Iniesta is one of the great absences when it comes to Ballon D’or winners. This is painful to us.
"We can only hope that a divine performance at the World Cup helps us to repair this democratic anomaly."