Cristiano Ronaldo still on his mind’: Messi’s Kopa Trophy vote for Lamine Yamal over Garnacho sparks debate

Lionel Messi’s votes for the Kopa Trophy, which was won by Lamine Yamal, have sparked debate among fans. Messi ranked Yamal as his top pick, followed by Pau Cubarsi in second and Alejandro Garnacho in third.

The choice of Yamal over Garnacho has generated plenty of discussion. Barcelona fans, in particular, have praised Messi’s selection, calling it a natural decision to choose the best player. However, some believe that Cristiano Ronaldo’s influence may have played a role in Messi’s voting.

One fan, Camp, defended Messi’s decision, saying, “Messi has credibility; he picked the best, and that was Lamine Yamal.” Another fan, Sonar, pointed out, “Messi is Argentine, but his blood runs through Barcelona, so Lamine Yamal was his first choice.”

On the other hand, some fans, like Kieran, speculated that Ronaldo’s presence is still on Messi’s mind. He suggested, “It seems that Cristiano Ronaldo is still on Messi’s mind, Alejandro Garnacho was left out because of his admiration for Ronaldo.” Gabriel shared a similar view, saying, “Messi didn’t like Garnacho’s admiration for Ronaldo, so he chose Lamine Yamal instead.”

In addition to the Kopa Trophy, there’s been talk about how close Lamine Yamal came to challenging Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in the 2024 Ballon d’Or race.