Paris, Oct 31: Lionel Messi proudly received his eighth Ballon d’Or on Tuesday, beating off stiff competition from stars like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe in an exciting ceremony held in Paris. The Argentinian maestro, who had earlier lifted the FIFA World Cup in 2022, now holds the Golden Ball for an astonishing eighth time, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s five wins by a good margin.
The award was presented to Messi by none other than football icon David Beckham, who is also the owner of Messi’s current club, Inter Miami. The crowd in Paris gave a standing ovation to Messi to honor his incredible achievement.
At the age of 36, Messi took the torch from Karim Benzema, who was recognized for his excellent performances last season. Notably, Messi showcased his talent in leading Argentina to a World Cup victory last year. He played an important role by scoring two important goals in the final against France, a match which led to a penalty shootout, where he also scored an important goal from the spot.
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LIONEL MESSI IS THE 2023 MEN’S BALLON D’OR!
Eight Ballon d’Or for Argentina hero! 🖐🤟#ballondor pic.twitter.com/1slOJ6EoKj
— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023
For the past 15 years, the Ballon d’Or has been dominated primarily by Messi and his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who have shared the honor 13 times between them. There are only two exceptions to his rule: Luka Modric’s triumph in 2018 and Benzema’s recognition for his exceptional season with Real Madrid last year.
Recognized as the best player at the World Cup and awarded the Golden Ball, Messi left a lasting impression by scoring an impressive seven goals in the tournament.
Earlier this year, Messi won the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award, beating tough contenders like Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne.
Messi’s win was aided by a recent change to the award’s criteria, which now only consider a player’s performances from the previous season rather than the entire calendar year.
Furthermore, the 35-year-old player not only secured the Ligue 1 title with his former club, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) last season, but he also made a significant move by joining Inter Miami this season. He made a notable contribution to the team’s victory in the League Cup, the first trophy in the club’s history.
🌕 Lionel Messi pays tribute to Diego Maradona
💬”Wherever you are, happy birthday Diego! This trophy is also for you.”#ballondor pic.twitter.com/mcx9V0Hqyz
— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023
