Xavi: Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or because of the major trophies
The midfielder insisted Messi is still the best and looked ahead to the Espanyol game
Without lamenting the decision to give Cristiano Ronaldo the 2016 Ballon d'Or, Xavi Hernandez has criticised the change in direction in terms of the criteria for selecting who has been the world's best player.
The former Barcelona midfielder suggests it changes depending on what favours the organisation who hand out the prize.
Xavi feels that if Ronaldo won it's because "they counted the major trophies, but there are other years in which they didn't use that to award the best player in the world.
The player, who exchanged words with Ronaldo earlier this year, said in an intver with TV3 that "Leo Messi is the best despite the trophies that someone else might have won."
In his visit to the Sheraton hotel to see the Barcelona team in Qatar, Xavi was able to speak with his friend Leo Messi.
He said: "I don't know what he will do [about his contract] because we spoke about our families, but I see him happy in Barcelona and I hope he stays."
Xavi feels this weekends game against Espanyol is key as Barcelona need to keep picking up points.
Talking to Quim Robert he said that "Espanyol will be a complicated game because they've improved under Quique [Sanchez Flores].
"They're good in defence, competitive and they're in a good spell of form. I like their defence and their goalkeeper is good, too."
For these reasons, Barça must play well to ensure they pick up three points. "Barça have let a lot of points go at Camp Nou and the can't afford to drop any more," Xavi added.
