PARIS — Lionel Messi secured his record-extending eighth men’s Ballon d’Or on Monday, adding to his collection of trophies after leading Argentina to victory in the World Cup in Qatar last year. The 36-year-old Messi, who had an otherwise unremarkable season at Paris Saint-Germain, clinched the prestigious award ahead of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
Messi expressed his gratitude to his Argentina coach, teammates, and staff, stating that the World Cup triumph was a title they had been missing for a long time. He also paid tribute to the late Diego Maradona, who played a crucial role in Argentina’s 1986 World Cup victory.
In the women’s category, Aitana Bonmati was honored for her contributions to Spain’s triumph in the Women’s World Cup, as well as Barcelona’s success in the Women’s Champions League and Spanish league.
Despite moving to Inter Miami in the United States, Messi has shown no signs of decline, and his exceptional performance in the World Cup played a crucial role in securing his latest Ballon d’Or. He scored seven goals and provided three assists for Argentina, including two goals in the final against France.
While Messi’s final season with PSG was not as successful as he had hoped, with an early exit from the Champions League, his individual brilliance and contributions to the team’s French league victory couldn’t be ignored.
Messi’s eighth Ballon d’Or win further solidifies his status as one of the greatest players of all time, with no one else having won more than five. Cristiano Ronaldo, Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, and Marco van Basten each have three titles to their names.
Since joining Inter Miami, Messi has already added to his trophy cabinet by guiding the team to victory in the U.S. Leagues Cup. This win marked the first time a Major League Soccer-based player has received such recognition. He received the award from former Manchester United star David Beckham, who is one of the club’s owners.
Messi expressed his contentment with his decision to join Miami and his excitement for the future. He succeeded Karim Benzema as the Ballon d’Or winner.
Mbappe, who scored a hat trick in the World Cup final despite France’s loss, had hoped that a fellow countryman would take home the prestigious award. Meanwhile, Haaland led Manchester City to a treble of trophies and scored an impressive 52 goals.
In other awards, Jude Bellingham was named the best under-21 player, Haaland received the Gerd Müller award for the best striker, and Emiliano Martinez was honored as the best goalkeeper. However, Martinez faced criticism for his World Cup celebrations and was filmed mocking Mbappe in the team dressing room.
Vinicius Junior received the Socrates humanitarian prize for his foundation supporting underprivileged children. The Real Madrid player pledged to continue his fight against racism, despite being a victim of racist abuse in the Spanish league.
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Since its inception in 1956, the Ballon d’Or has been one of the most prestigious honors in football. In 2018, the women’s award was introduced, and both awards were canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
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