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Having an amazing talent in today's world is never enough, you also need to understand that in order to become the very best in your own craft, you also have to work hard every day and make a large number of sacrifices. The best players in football history have always been really talented, but they have also been hard-workers who don't give up and have their priorities straight all the time. This is not the case with Mario Balotelli, at least not yet.
That's why every time either he or his agent say that he wants to win the Ballon d'Or, there is very little people who believe it. Even compatriots of Balotelli who became legends of the game have their doubts, Ravanelli for example, is one of the Italian legends who laugh at the very notion of Balotelli winning a Ballon d'Or in his career.
Talking to Omnisport, Ravanelli said: "Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and even Zlatan Ibrahimovic are the number ones not only because God gave them this talent but mostly because they make sacrifices in everyday life. For example a few months ago I read Novak Djokovic's book and was gobsmacked. I understood why he is the world's number one. He trains 14 hours per day. This is what Balotelli has to understand. To be Balotelli is not enough to win the Ballon d'Or. At the moment he is light-years away from winning it.
"It is hard to define him. I love him but at the same time he has to understand that a footballer's life is hard and full of sacrifices. He is a very good guy but he makes mistakes due to his youth and his superficiality. He needs to become an example. For himself, for his family, for his brother and his daughter. When you wear an important shirt like Inter's, [AC] Milan's, Manchester City's and now Nice's you have to be an example, even off the pitch."
He added: "Three or four good games are not enough to get back into the national team. This doesn't only apply to Balotelli but to anyone. You step up to international level after years of sacrifices and great results. Today you wear the Italy shirt with a good month or three or four good games. I don't accept that and never did as I had to make so many sacrifices to be an international. I am surprised that nowadays some young players play for Italy after a couple of good displays. This hinders Italy's performances too.
"I am not saying that the national team is a finishing point of your career. It may be a starting point but only if you proved to be capable of making sacrifices and be mature. Balotelli, I hope he can get back into the Italy team, but at the same time I don't want him to go back to his old ways."
Photo credit: OGC Nice
