Manager Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that a recent comment he made about Lionel Messi seemingly did not go down well with two certain Paris Saint-Germain stars.
The 34-year-old is one of the 30 nominees for this year's Ballon d'Or, and could win the accolade after his 40 goals and 14 assists in 2021 helped him lead his former club FC Barcelona to a Copa del Rey title and Argentina to victory at the 2021 Copa America.
Scroll through the gallery below to see all the nominees for the 2021 Ballon d'Or award
Messi's PSG teammates Gianluigi Donnarumma, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar have also been nominated for the famous Golden Ball, but Pochettino picked his countryman over the trio when asked earlier this month who he feels should win the prize.
The Ligue 1 club's boss has since revealed that his comments led to a "problem" with two certain players at the club.
"I had a problem saying that Messi should win the Ballon d'Or," he jokingly said after PSG's 0-0 draw with Olympic Marseille on Sunday, per Diario AS.
"Neymar and Mbappe told me why not them.
"In any case, it would be great for any player from Paris to win it, but Leo deserves it."
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Here is what the former Tottenham Hotspur manager said when explaining why he believes the six-time Ballon d'Or winner should win the famous accolade a record seventh time.
"The Ballon d'Or should go to Messi, without any doubt," Pochettino said earlier this month, according to the Daily Mirror.
"And if I didn't coach Messi, I would still say Messi.
"I answer with my heart. I always say what I feel.
"On the podium with him would have to be [Robert] Lewandowski and Cristiano [Ronaldo]."
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