Hugo Sánchez Slams the Ballon d'Or: "It Was Discrimination"
Hugo Sánchez recalled the injustice he experienced during his time at Real Madrid, when he was ineligible for the Ballon d'Or because of his nationality. The legendary Mexican striker revealed that he even considered returning his European Golden Shoe in protest.
Legendary Mexican soccer player Hugo Sánchez has once again criticized the former Ballon d'Or rules, which prevented non-European players from competing for the prestigious individual award for decades.
In an interview with AS, the former Real Madrid striker recalled that, despite becoming one of European soccer's most prolific goalscorers, he never had the opportunity to compete for the award during his peak years.
Sánchez argued that the restriction was unfair to foreign players who excelled in Europe's top leagues.
The Mexican legend also pointed out that players such as Diego Maradona faced similar limitations, even when their performances established them among the best players in the world.
Hugo Sánchez Nearly Returned His European Golden Shoe
One of the most surprising revelations from the interview came when Sánchez recalled the 1990 awards ceremony, when he received the European Golden Shoe following an extraordinary season with Real Madrid.
The former striker admitted that he had considered rejecting the award in protest against his exclusion from the Ballon d'Or.
"It was discrimination, and it wasn't fair," he said while reflecting on the situation.
However, his wife convinced him to accept the trophy, explaining that he might eventually regret not keeping such an important achievement.
Ultimately, Sánchez accepted the European Golden Shoe and decided to raise his objections with the relevant governing bodies.
Hugo Sánchez's Historic Career at Real Madrid
The Mexican striker built an extraordinary career in Spain, first with Atlético Madrid and later with Real Madrid.
During his time with Los Blancos, he won five consecutive LaLiga titles and four Pichichi awards as the league's leading goalscorer.
In the 1989-90 season, he scored 38 goals, all with first-time finishes, an achievement that cemented his reputation as one of the greatest strikers of his generation.
His career was also marked by incidents of discrimination during his early years in Spain, challenges he overcame with the help of psychological preparation.
Hugo Sánchez Questions the Evolution of Modern Soccer
In addition to discussing his experience with the Ballon d'Or, Sánchez criticized the transformation of modern soccer.
The Mexican legend believes that speed, physical strength, and intensity have become more important than individual technique.
For the former striker, players such as Maradona, Marco van Basten, and Ruud Gullit represented an era when technical ability and natural talent played a greater role in the game.
Key Takeaways
- Hugo Sánchez condemned the former exclusion of non-European players from the Ballon d'Or.
- The Mexican striker considered returning his 1990 European Golden Shoe in protest.
- His wife convinced him to keep the award.
- Diego Maradona was also affected by the nationality restrictions.
- Sánchez won five consecutive LaLiga titles with Real Madrid.
- The former striker believes modern soccer prioritizes physical strength over technical ability.
