Lionel Messi has congratulated Cristiano Ronaldo for his FIFA Ballon d'Or victory while admitting that 2013 was not a great year for him.
Messi was looking to win his fifth consecutive Ballon d'Or, but fell short when it was announced in Zurich on Monday that Ronaldo was in fact the victor.
"I want to congratulate Cristiano because he was the winner and deserved it," Messi said, according to ESPN. "I have nothing to say. I believe it was a good year for the three players, and that is why we were the three who were there. I have nothing to complain about, nor any excuses to make. It is a pleasure [just] to be here for a seventh consecutive year. It is very nice."
Messi missed a long stretch of 2013 with hamstring injuries. The injury problems cropped up in March and lingered throughout the end of the 2012-13 season. Instead of resting during the summer, he went on tour to promote his charity and his start to the 2013-14 season was hindered by the nagging injury. He was completely shutdown for the remainder of the year in November and missed out on a chance to make his case for the Ballon d'Or.
"I do not know if it would have been different without the injuries," said Messi when asked if this was the reason he lost. "I was a long time out, that is true. I did not arrive in good condition for the semi-finals of the Champions League, and this season I was injured as soon as the season began, but that has nothing to do with it. Cristiano deserved to win.
He also noted that 2013 had taken a personal toll on him. He and his father were accused of tax evasion; his father was also accused of money laundering recently.
"It was a difficult year. Not just for the injuries, but for the things said about me and my family. I hope I can enjoy my football in 2014."