Frank Leboeuf criticised the Ballon d’Or award, despite several Chelsea stars earning a nomination for the honour.
Speaking on ESPN, Leboeuf laid into the prize, lambasting the idea of an exclusive accolade within a team industry.
Players still in the game might have a different perspective on the matter.
Winning – let alone being recommended for the Ballon d’Or – separates the best from the rest.
A nod to the extraordinary achievements accomplished across a season.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s trophy cabinets might lose a certain shine without this particular title.
Chelsea nominees
And for those waiting in line behind the awe-inspiring duo, to make it onto the red carpet is often praise enough.
Especially for those five Chelsea members currently on the Ballon d’Or guest list.
N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Mason Mount, Romelu Lukaku and Cesar Azpilicueta all made it into the final 30 of the voting stages.
Jorginho is probably the most likely to take top spot off Ronaldo and Messi.
He is already the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year, plus the owner of a Champions League, European Championship and UEFA Super Cup winners’ medal.
For the Italian to earn elite status as the Ballon d’Or victor would be an amazing stride for midfielders across the continent.
Frank assessment
However, none of the Blues contingent will be earning Leboeuf’s selection anytime soon.
“It doesn’t change my opinion on it,” said the former Chelsea defender.
“I don’t really care about that. Musicians, they have an award every year.
“What if during the Beatles or the Rolling Stones, let’s say John Lennon or Mick Jagger won a personal award for their year of being the greatest musician or singer?
“How would the Beatles react to that? That’s the same thing for me. That’s stupid.
“That’s really stupid to give a personal, individual award into a collective sport.
“Like it would be stupid to give John Lennon when he was belonging to the Beatles an award only for himself.
“That’s what I think about the Ballon d’Or. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”
Kante and co. will be asking Leboeuf if ‘We Can Work It Out’, but it seems the Frenchman will just reply with ‘Can’t Buy Me Love.’
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