Atletico Madrid's new defensive leader Cuti Romero has made a strong case for Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d'Or following his standout performance in the derby. The Argentine centre-back, who kept Kylian Mbappé quiet during the 2-1 win over Real Madrid last Friday, believes the award should belong to his compatriot for as long as he plays.
"The Ballon d'Or should be given to Messi until he decides to stop playing," Romero stated in an interview. The 28-year-old, who joined from Tottenham this summer and has settled quickly at the Metropolitano, was unequivocal. "And when he decides to retire, we'll see who we give it to," he added, implicitly criticising the current criteria for the award, which he feels is too influenced by marketing power.
The backdrop of a key win
The comments come at a time of growing confidence for Diego Simeone's side. That derby victory is part of a three-game winning streak in La Liga that has propelled Atletico to second place, with 16 points from seven matches. The colchoneros are five points behind leaders Barcelona and have a record of 16 goals scored and just seven conceded.
Romero was a key piece in securing the win over their eternal rivals, a result that solidifies the team's positive run. The goals came from an Alejandro Grimaldo penalty in the 53rd minute and from Jonathan David six minutes later.
A voice of experience
For the defender, who has Messi as his captain with the Argentine national team, there is no debate. With eight Ballon d'Or trophies in his cabinet, the Inter Miami star represents the pinnacle of world football for Romero. His opinion stems from the conviction that as long as Messi remains active, no other player can be considered at his level for the top individual honour.
Atletico, who closed their preparations for the international break with that win, now look ahead to their next fixture. The team travels to Mendizorroza to face Alaves, who sit sixth in the table, on Saturday 10 October. All information regarding the squad and any potential absences for that match is available on our squad page.
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