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“It was wonderful to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or for so many years, and being at the gala is fantastic. It’s great to be there,” says Xavi Hernandez with a smile. “It’s very rewarding to have everyone congratulating you for being there at the pinnacle of world football.” Having made the three-man shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d’Or every year between 2009 and 2011, and also featuring in the FIFA FIFPro World XI for six years running, the 35-year-old midfielder was a very familiar face at the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala.
Reflecting on his successes in an exclusive interview with FIFA.com, which you can watch in full in the video above, he recalled his three podium placings in the FIFA Ballon d’Or, including the 2010 award, for which he was shortlisted along with his friends Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta: “It was historic for me, for Barcelona, and for the whole philosophy at Barça.”
Xavi wasn't short of an opinion on the race for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or, either: “I think Leo is the clear favourite now, and he deserves it too for everything he’s achieved at Barcelona. There’s no comparison in my book. He has total command of every aspect of the game. He’s the best at everything and he shows that in every match. He deserves this Ballon d’Or.”
Xavi also gave his view on the players who could join Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in their now-traditional battle for the award: “Cristiano and Messi are still a cut above, but other players can come into it too, like Neymar and Luis Suarez.”
Click on the video to hear more from Xavi. Click 'subtitles/closed captions' for the English translation.