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Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger: 'Totally against' Ballon d'Or award

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger says that he is against the premise of the Ballon d’Or award because he believes that soccer is a team not an individual sport.
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Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger says that he is against the premise of the Ballon d’Or award, given to soccer’s best player in the world.

FIFA awarded Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo with the award for the second year in a row earlier this week.

“I would not vote for any Ballon d’Or,” Wenger said to the Guardian. “I’m totally against it.”

Wenger can’t vote for the award anyway, as only national team managers, national team captains and journalists cast votes to decide the winner. Wenger said even if he was allowed to vote, he wouldn’t, because he believes that soccer is a team not an individual sport.

“I’m a team lover and a specialist of somebody who loves team work,” Wenger said. "I’m completely against it. I would not vote for anybody.”

Arsenal will take on Manchester City on Sunday. Wenger’s club is fifth in the Premier League standings with 36 points through 21 matches, one point behind Manchester United. Chelsea leads the EPL with 49 points.

- Scooby Axson