Kaizer Chiefs’ Itumeleng Khune Believes Lionel Messi Is the Greatest But SA Disagrees

• Football fans are sharing their reactions to Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, who says Lionel Messi deserves the Ballon d’Or award
• The Chiefs keeper headed online to congratulate Messi for his seventh Ballon d’Or accolade and there are massive reactions
• Some fans feel the Paris St Germain star didn’t deserve the award but a player such as Robert Lewandowski should have won it

Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has also heaped praise on Argentina and Paris St Germain star Lionel Messi. Messi bagged his seventh Ballon d’Or award on Monday night and Khune has acted like a fan showing his admiration.

The Amakhosi net minder headed online to share his excitement and lavished the former Barcelona star with praise. ‘Itu’ says the experienced midfielder has no competitor as he clinched the award in an event that was hosted in France.

Despite being sidelined at Naturena under coach Stuart Baxter, the Bafana Bafana international remains a celebrated football figure in Mzansi. He wrote on social media:

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“They call him 007. 0 players better than him. 0 arguments left against him 7 Ballon d’Ors. Lionel Andrés Messi. #GreatestOfAllTime.”

The post reads:

@Bundaligga88 said:

“Hayi kabi my captain but this award has become a joke. I can’t come to terms with how Messi won it over Edouard Mendy and Mohamed Salah.”

@Dumi_Dludlu said:

“Prestigious no more, these awards are handed to whoever they see fit, not the deserving player. People are clouded by the love of an individual and judge based on that. Lewandowski deserved this award simply because they postponed it last year. They should have made it a two-year cycle.”

@_Morganical said:

“This award is a scam, many great players have been robbed in the past! Guys like Iniesta, Xavi, Robben, Zlatan and Manuel Neuer. If it’s about trophies, Jorginho helped Italy and Chelsea win trophies and he was a pivotal player, but it’s cool man, let me not get emotional.”

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@Dance_Prince13 said:

“Messi wins Ballon d'Or using club records-you complain saying he needs international trophy to prove himself. Now he wins the most difficult international trophy (after World Cup) and dominates it... and you come and complain again, saying he didn't do enough on club level. Jesus.”

@NketsuVusi said:

“Oksalayo Lewandowski deserved it.”

“Inevitable”: Mzansi rejoices over Lionel Messi’s 7th Ballon d’Or success in Paris

Checking other sports stories, Briefly News posted that in the wake of bagging another Ballon d’Or trophy on Monday night in an event that was held in Paris, Argentina's Lionel Messi is now being celebrated in South Africa too.

The skilful attacker, who is currently contracted to Paris St Germain in the French Ligue1, bagged the prestigious accolade for the seventh time.

The former Barcelona star beat the likes of Bayern Munich and Poland’s Robert Lewandowski as well as Egypt and Liverpool talisman, Mohamed Salah.