Lionel Messi secured the 2023 Ballon d’Or, marking his eighth prestigious victory as the world’s best footballer. The award is determined by a panel of a hundred journalists from across the globe, who cast their votes for the standout footballer for a specific season.
During a ceremony held in Paris on Monday, the 36-year-old celebrated this remarkable achievement alongside his family, teammates and friends.
Messi’s leadership during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar propelled Argentina to glory, ending a 36-year wait for the nation since Maradona won it in 1986. In a thrilling final against France, Messi scored twice and once in the penalty shootout after extra time, also earning himself the title of Player of the Match.
At the World Cup, he also impressed with goals in each knockout round and secured a second-place finish in the top goalscorer charts, ultimately earning the Golden Ball for his outstanding campaign.
Notably, he not only surpassed Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe for the top spot, but also outshone 27 other players nominated for the award.
Erling Haaland had a fantastic first season with his new club, Manchester City, winning the treble and scoring 52 goals in all competitions for the Citizens. Kylian Mbappe was also a strong contender for the top spot, with his outstanding performance in the World Cup, scoring a hat-trick in the final, and narrowly missing out on leading France to glory in a penalty shootout.
Furthermore, Messi’s remarkable season with PSG, where he played 41 matches, scored 21 goals, and provided 20 assists, significantly contributed to his well-deserved recognition. Messi also recently led his new club Inter Miami to their first ever trophy and has scored 11 times in 14 matches.
In the eyes of the voters, it was clear that Lionel Messi’s achievements throughout the year outweighed the competition from his younger peers.
Recognized as the Greatest of All Time or the ‘GOAT’ for short, Messi has certainly cemented his name in the echelons of football greatness, alongside names such as Pele, Diego Maradona and his long time rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
He has now won the Ballon d’Or more times than any player in footballing history, three more times than Cristiano Ronaldo, who last claimed the honor in 2017.
Onstage, he expressed his gratitude to his national team and all those involved, savoring the moment once more, maybe for the last time.
