Angel Di Maria has responded to Lothar Matthaus’s criticism of Lionel Messi‘s eighth Ballon d’Or win by telling the German football legend to “go cry somewhere else.” Matthaus had expressed disapproval of Messi’s victory, calling it a “farce” and insisting that Erling Haaland was the more deserving winner due to his impressive goal-scoring spree that helped Manchester City achieve a treble.
"Go cry somewhere else."
– Angel di Maria's response to Lothar Matthaus' claim that Erling Haaland deserved to win the Ballon d'Or over Lionel Messi 😳 pic.twitter.com/j1UR8fM083
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 1, 2023
In defense of Messi, Angel Di Maria commented on an Instagram post, adding a laughing emoji for emphasis. Matthaus, a former Ballon d’Or winner himself and a key figure in the football world, won the award in 1990 after a successful World Cup campaign with Germany. His support for Haaland is rooted in the Norwegian’s outstanding performance, where he scored 52 goals across all competitions for Manchester City.
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However, Messi’s achievements in the past year should not be overlooked. He played a pivotal role in Argentina’s World Cup victory in Qatar, scoring crucial goals and excelling in the final match against France. Additionally, he contributed 21 goals and 20 assists for PSG in various competitions, helping them secure the Ligue 1 title before his transfer to Inter Miami.
Matthaus’s comments have sparked a debate within the football community, with fans and players expressing their opinions on the Ballon d’Or outcome. While opinions on the winner may vary, there is no denying that both Messi and Haaland have had exceptional seasons in their own right.
