Lionel Messi‘s 2021 and 2022 Ballon d’Or wins are being investigated, according to Le Monde.
The outlet reports that a judicial review is taking place over pressure PSG put on France Football during Messi’s two years in Paris.
In both years, PSG are said to have strengthened ties with Pascal Ferré, the former editor of France Football, including persuading him to not run a negative story about owner and chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
Le Monde allege that Ferre receives trips and gifts from the Paris giants in order to ‘lobby’ for Messi to win the Ballon d’Or in 2021 and 2022.
The French police investigation, revealed by Le Monde recounts some messages from Ribes, the club’s former communications director, in which he notified Al Khelaïfi: “We are going to do lobby, so let’s have lunch with Pascal.”
The message was sent on September 18, months before the Argentine star was awarded his seventh Ballon d’Or.
Messi left PSG in the summer of 2023, joining MLS side Inter Miami on a free transfer.
Leave a Reply