Lionel Messi, the legendary footballer, secured his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or on Monday, marking another historic milestone in his illustrious career. His achievement comes on the heels of fulfilling his lifelong dream of leading Argentina to World Cup victory in Qatar last year.
Messi’s latest Ballon d’Or triumph was a standout moment in a relatively unremarkable season for him, especially when measured against his extraordinary standards at Paris Saint-Germain. He outshone contenders like Manchester City forward Erling Haaland and his former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe to claim the prestigious award.
In his acceptance speech, Messi expressed his gratitude to his Argentina coach, teammates, and staff, acknowledging their pivotal role in his success. He also dedicated the award to the late Diego Maradona, a fellow World Cup-winning Argentine football legend.
“This title and this trophy,” Messi said, “I share them with you and all our Argentina comrades.”
Aitana Bonmati was honored with the women’s Ballon d’Or for her role in guiding Spain to victory at the Women’s World Cup, in addition to her contributions to Barcelona’s Women’s Champions League and Spanish league victories.
Despite missing the shortlist for the 2022 Ballon d’Or and transitioning from European soccer to Major League Soccer (MLS) with Inter Miami, Messi made a triumphant return to claim the prestigious prize. His exceptional performance at the World Cup in Qatar, where he was involved in 10 goals for Argentina (scoring seven and assisting three), played a pivotal role in securing his Ballon d’Or.
Messi’s final season with PSG was somewhat subdued, marked by an exit from the Champions League in the round of 16, despite the club clinching an 11th French league title. The award cements his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time, with a record-breaking eighth Ballon d’Or to his name.
As Messi transitions to Inter Miami in the U.S., he has already contributed to the team’s victory in the U.S. Leagues Cup. This marks the first time a Major League Soccer-based player has won the Ballon d’Or, and Messi received the award from former Manchester United star David Beckham, who is an owner of Inter Miami.
Messi expressed his contentment with the choices he has made, emphasizing his happiness with Inter Miami and his plans to continue contributing to the team.
The Ballon d’Or award for women was established in 2018, while both the men’s and women’s trophies were canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. For the first time last year, the award was based on achievements from the past season, as opposed to performances throughout the calendar year.
In other awards, Jude Bellingham was named the best under-21 player, while Haaland received the Gerd Müller award for the best striker of the year. The Lev Yashin award for the best goalkeeper went to Emiliano Martinez.
Vinicius Junior was honored with the humanitarian prize named after the late Brazil midfielder Socrates for his efforts in setting up a foundation for underprivileged children and his commitment to fighting against racism.
