Diego Maradona says disappointed in Lionel MessiJanuary 10, 2017 - 11:59 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Diego Maradona was disappointed that Lionel Messi and Barcelona opted not to travel to Zurich for the 2016 the Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony, with Roberto Carlos and Michel Salgado also critical, Goal reports. Messi, nominated for the Best FIFA Men's Player prize, had been expected to travel with Barca team-mates Luis Suarez, Neymar and Gerard Pique. However, the club announced on Monday, January 9 that none of their players would attend the gala in Switzerland due to the Copa del Rey match against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday. The Argentina international was beaten to the accolade by Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, and Maradona was frustrated his compatriot was not present. "I'm disappointed with Messi, from watching television at home you cannot fight anything or anyone – here you can fight," he told TVE. "I do not know why Barcelona did not come to such an important event. They have priorities and the priority was for Leo not to come. I think coming here [Zurich] they could fight more than they would in Barcelona." Madrid icon Roberto Carlos was also miffed by Barca's decision, suggesting Messi could learn humility from Ronaldo. "I am sad and disappointed that Leo and his team-mates have not come. They have many great footballers and all of us would have liked to see them attend," the former Brazil international said before the ceremony. "We all wanted to see Messi, the other big players and the coach of Barcelona here. It's a FIFA prize. FIFA is the highest authority in football. So everyone should be here. "Cristiano has learned the importance of this and I think Leo also needs to learn that he must be here. This has to change. "Real Madrid also have a match this week but they are well represented in Zurich. The obligations to win for both clubs are the same." Read also:Cristiano Ronaldo wins FIFA best men's player award Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | U.S. believes peace is “possible” in South Caucasus The United States continues to believe that peace is possible in the South Caucasus, Vedant Patel said. Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |