Cristiano Ronaldo was a monster, and the father of the monster is Lionel Messi- Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola discussed why Xavi and Andres Iniesta, despite their remarkable accomplishments with Barcelona and Spain, never secured the Ballon d'Or. The two midfielders, who won two European Championships, a World Cup, and numerous club titles, were overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who dominated the award from 2008 to 2017, each winning it five times. Guardiola remarked, "Cristiano (Ronaldo) was a monster, and the father of the monster is (Lionel) Messi." He commended their influence over the past 15-20 years, adding, "The era of Cristiano and Messi has been unbelievable... now, we're in a different era, and anyone can win the Ballon d'Or."