Oddly, former Arsenal player, Alex Hleb, has today criticised the decision to name Cristiano Ronaldo the best player in Europe.

Hleb, who was pictured kissing Barcelona’s badge on the day he signed for the club (wanker), thinks that Lionel Messi was robbed of the award.

There’s no denying that Messi is a truly gifted player and I’ll happily hear arguments that suggest he’s a better player than Ronaldo. However, someone needs to explain to Hleb that the Ballon d’Or recognises the best player of the year in Europe. I don’t know what football Hleb was watching to think Messi had a better year than Ronaldo in 2008!

“The Portuguese deserved everything he received from journalists, but never as much as Messi,” said Hleb. “It’s wrong he was given the Ballon d’Or. This shows that the people who voted are blind and have nothing to do with football. Snubbing Messi is the equivalent of showing a lack of respect for him as a genius. I have played many times against Cristiano Ronaldo when I was in the Premiership and I know how he plays. I know what he was capable of, but also know his limits. But since I came here I have learned to respect the genius of Messi. You cannot compare Cristiano Ronaldo with Messi. Definitely, you cannot.”

He won the European Cup, scoring his team’s only goal in the final, he won the Premier League, he was the top scorer in both the Premiership and Champions League, and he scored 42 goals in 47 games when he mostly played on the wing. To claim that such a player should be snubbed in favour of another who scored 16 goals in 40 games and won fuck all is the comment of someone either very bitter or who is blind or knows nothing about football.

It is rare that I defend Ronaldo these days, but this is an occasion where it can’t be helped. Hleb should keep his trap shut and stick to what he’s good at… warming Barca’s bench.