Brazil's President Explains Why Footballers From Brazil Don’t Win the Ballon d’Or Anymore

• Brazil's President, Lula da Silva used Lionel Messi's 8th Ballon d'Or win to call on Brazilian footballers to work harder
• He said that the win has to inspire their footballers to win the award
• The last Brazilian to win the Ballon d'Or was Kaka in 2007

Brazil is the home of football. The country has produced many iconic footballers who entertained millions of fans across the globe.

However, the country has experienced a drastic decline in the last two decades after winning the 2002 World Cup.

Brazil's president, Lula da Silva, says partying hinders Brazilian players from winning the Ballon d'Or.

Da Silva was reacting to Lionel Messi winning his 8th Ballon d'Or on Monday, October 30. He said that Messi's win should inspire Brazilian players.

"Messi should serve as an example to Brazilian players," Lula commented. "The 36-year-old guy, world champion, with the Ballon d'Or and everything. Messi needs to be an inspiration of dedication for these kids. Anyone who wants to win the Ballon d'Or has to dedicate themselves, they have to be professional. It doesn't go with partying, it doesn't go with a night out," he wrote on X.

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Messi won his first Ballon d'Or in 2009. Kaka was the last Brazilian to win it in 2007. Neymar has come close to winning the award; the Al-Hilal star finished third in both 2015 and 2017.

That run has coincided with Brazil's decline on the international football scene. They were eliminated in the quarter-final of the 2022 World Cup despite being pre-tournament favourites.

What went wrong for Brazil?

Brazil have had five Ballon d'Or winners in their history. Interestingly, the late great Pele never won the Ballon d'Or. Ronaldo Nazario's 1997 win was the first time a Brazilian won the award.

Rivaldo took it in 1999, Ronaldo won this second in 2002, and Ronaldinho followed in 2005 before Kaka won the last one in 2007, per 90min.

After Kaka's win, Messi went on to win eight Ballon d'Or awards.

In four of the last five World Cups, Brazil were eliminated in the quarter-finals by a European team: Croatia in 2022, France in 2006, the Netherlands in 2010, and Belgium in 2018.

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In 2014, they reached the semi-final on home soil but were humiliated by Germany, who scored seven goals. It was an embarrassing result for the football nation.

They've rarely looked like winning the tournament, and it seems the magic has recently vanished.

Neymar Jr. congratulates Lionel Messi

Sports Brief also reported on how Neymar celebrated his long-time friend Messi after the Argentine won an 8th Ballon d’Or.

Neymar suffered a serious injury in the October international break, ruling him out of action for at least six months.

This, however, did not stop him from taking to social media to share a lovely message with his former teammate.