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Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said that Barcelona star Lionel Messi criticised himself after being named Golden Ball winner at the 2014 World Cup, when Argentina were beaten by Germany in the final. Blatter told Argentine newspaper La Nacion that it was a tough moment for Messi after Argentina lost the final because the 28-year-old had to go up and receive the award for being the tournament's best player. Messi won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing but has not won any silverware with his country since, despite the Albiceleste reaching the final at both the 2014 World Cup and 2015 Copa America. "Messi was speaking to himself, he was saying over and over again: 'The best, but not the champion,'" Blatter said. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has often been criticised because the Albiceleste have not won any major titles with the Barcelona star leading their attack. Messi has won seven La Liga crowns, four Champions League titles and three Copa del Rey titles but he has said that he would trade all his trophies for a World Cup win with Argentina. Blatter also told the newspaper that he feels Messi is the best player in the world, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo. "You can't compare Cristiano with Leo Messi, who's now decided not to shave...," Blatter said. "Of course Messi is better! And, in addition, he'd be the perfect son-in-law. I like talking with him a lot, he's a good lad." Blatter had said on a number of occasions that for him the German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was the deserved winner of the Golden Ball at the 2014 World Cup.
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