"However, the Ballon d'Or selection isn't solely about personal statistics."
"There's also the team's honors."
Chen Zhong's words carried profound meaning. In the King's Cup, Barcelona and Real Madrid meet in the final, and in the league, Real Madrid and Barcelona are direct rivals for the title. On the Champions League stage, there's a possibility that the two teams might encounter each other someday.
If Real Madrid wins the championship in all three competitions, stepping over Barcelona, even if Messi's personal statistics are brilliant, he will have no way of surpassing Chen Zhong in the Ballon d'Or race.
This statement also laid the groundwork for the upcoming derby between the two teams.
And Messi, as the new core of Barcelona, responded shortly after by saying: "The league isn't over yet. The points gap between us and Real Madrid isn't large; anyone could be the champion."
