PSG accused of influencing Lionel Messi's 2021 Ballon d'Or win

Paris Saint-Germain FC has been under fire after a judicial investigation revealed alleged lobbying strategies from the Parisian club, pushing for Leo Messi to win the Ballon d'Or between 2021 and 2022.

According to Le Monde and Mediapart, PSG improved its ties and strengthened the relationship with Pascal Ferré, who was president of France Football Magazine at the time – the magazine that presents the Ballon d'Or award.

Le Monde reports the Ballon d'Or organizer was 'coerced' to delete a report from L’Équipe which analyzed Nassar Al Khelaïfi kickbacks in 2011 for the signing of Javier Pastore.

To return the favor, PSG appointed Ferré as PSG's new head of communications in the Parisian club (2023). He also received numerous tickets for matches, including a 2020 closed-doors Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund.

It doesn't stop there...Ferré was also 'gifted' a business class flight on board a Qatar Airways flight, allegedly paid for by the Qatari government in March 2021. A flight that costs somewhere around €9,000 ($9,850 US, £7,745)

These generous gifts from PSG allegedly helped the French entity lobby for Lionel Messi's seventh Ballon d'Or as a part of a deal linked with the Argentinian player. The French club 'assured' Messi he would win his precious accolade.

The ongoing police investigation revealed detailed messages between the former director of communications at PSG in which he notified President Al Khelaïfi that "it was necessary to lobby" and that they would have lunch with Pascal Ferré.

This has stirred a lot of emotions in Paris and has left many important figures exposed. Pascal Ferré and his environment deny everything, including his alleged involvement in the Messi 'lobbying'.

The former director of France Football Magazine is adamant on his position regarding Messi and the 2021 Ballon d'Or. Ferré claims Messi was not nominated for the 2022 award and that his 2021 vote went for Robert Lewandowski.

The current head of PSG's head of communication was involved in a series of publications back in 2010 titled 'Qatar Gate' which reported on the fraudulent process behind the World Cup heading to the Middle East. It seems he has changed his opinion.

The judicial investigation into PSG continues, following the puzzling connections between Gerald Darmanin and the Parisian club. Gerald Darmanin is the current French interior minister, who is being accused of aiding PSG with tax evasion.

Gerald Darmanin allegedly helped the Parisian club with a huge tax break following Neymar's €220m transfer in 2017!

Now back to the 2021 Ballon d'Or scandal, hypothetically speaking, Lewandowski was the clear favorite to win the renowned football award following his remarkable season at Bayern Munich.

Robert Lewandowski was on another level! During the 2021 season, he scored a total of 35 goals in 34 appearances in the Bundesliga. The Polish striker scored 13 goals in 10 appearances in the Champions League. Big numbers worthy of recognition.

Leo Messi's 2021 season barely came close! He scored a total of 6 goals and 15 assists in 26 games!

Not to mention the PSG disaster in the 2021/22 Champions League season, which saw the Parisians humiliated at the Santiago Bernabeu after a breathtaking game, that ended with a 'los Blancos' last-minute comeback.

Lionel Messi is arguably one of the best football players to ever play in the 21st century. His athletic resume proves he is a GOAT, but scandals like this only further smudge his image and further unveil the political shadow that follows football as of late. Let us not forget what the game stands for. #EarnItOnThePitch right?