Former Inter star Wesley Sneijder claims “I could have been mentioned in the same breath as Messi and Ronaldo if I had been 100 percent committed.”
Sneijder won the Champions League with Inter in 2010 and helped Netherlands reach the World Cup Final later that year.
However, the ex-midfielder lost the 2010 Ballon d’Or to Lionel Messi and he admits he could have worked harder in his career.
Former Inter star Wesley Sneijder claims “I could have been mentioned in the same breath as Messi and Ronaldo if I had been 100 percent committed.”
Sneijder won the Champions League with Inter in 2010 and helped Netherlands reach the World Cup Final later that year.
However, the ex-midfielder lost the 2010 Ballon d’Or to Lionel Messi and he admits he could have worked harder in his career.
“I have to be honest and admit that I could have been mentioned in the same breath as Messi and Ronaldo if I had been 100 percent committed. I know that,” he told Fox Sports, as per talkSPORT.
“But I did not want to do that and I have no regrets about it. It’s not that I didn’t have it in me, but I simply didn’t want to do it.
“I enjoyed my footballing career as it was, both on and off the pitch. I won every trophy I could win at club level, so I have no regrets at all. I am a team player and I like to be successful as a team.
“People still approach me to tell me that they feel I should have won the Ballon d’Or in 2010, but I keep telling them that winning the Champions League was nicer than an individual trophy.
“Of course, it would have been the icing on the cake, but it’s satisfying enough that people tell me I should have won it.”
The 35-year-old retired from professional football back in August.