Soccer Soccer – 2023 Ballon d’Or – Chatelet Theatre, Paris, France – October 30, 2023 Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi after profitable the lads’s Ballon d’Or together with his sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
PARIS — Argentina captain Lionel Messi gained a file eighth Ballon d’Or for the perfect participant on the earth on Monday, beating Norway’s UEFA participant of the 12 months and treble winner Erling Haaland of Manchester Metropolis to the celebrated prize.
Inter Miami’s Messi, who final gained the award in 2021, performed a pivotal function in guiding Argentina to their first World Cup title in 36 years once they beat defending champions France within the ultimate final 12 months.
The 36-year-old is now three Ballons d’Or away from rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who gained the final of his 5 trophies in 2017. Messi has now completed among the many prime three a file 14 instances in complete, ending runner-up on 5 events.
“I couldn’t think about having the profession that I’ve had. All the pieces that I’ve achieved. The fortune I’ve had enjoying for the perfect staff on the earth, the perfect staff in historical past. It’s good to win these particular person trophies. To win the Copa America after which the World Cup, to get it completed is wonderful,” Messi mentioned.
“All of them (Ballon d’Or awards) are particular for various causes,” he added.
“I’m glad to get that recognition that I’m getting because of what we’ve achieved with the nationwide staff,” Messi informed Reuters.
“This (World Cup) title we had been aiming for for thus a few years makes it much more particular.”
Requested if he would keep it up till the 2026 World Cup, Messi mentioned: “I don’t give it some thought. I’ll take pleasure in (my profession) daily. There’ll first be the Copa America in the USA (in 2024). (The World Cup), I don’t give it some thought.”
Earlier, Messi’s World Cup-winning staff mate Emiliano Martinez gained the Lev Yashin award for the world’s finest goalkeeper.
Spain’s Ladies’s World Cup winner and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati gained the ladies’s Ballon d’Or.
“It’s a person trophy however it could’t exist and not using a staff,” she informed reporters.
READ: Messi eyes eighth Ballon d’Or with Bonmati set to win girls’s award
Messi, who gained his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 and claimed 4 in a row till 2012, completed second to Haaland on the UEFA awards in August.
Haaland, 23, was one of many agency favourites for his first Ballon d’Or after scoring 52 targets in 53 matches in all competitions final season as Metropolis gained the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.
However Argentina’s magical run on the World Cup in Qatar, the place Messi earned the Golden Ball for finest general participant and Silver Boot (seven targets and three assists), helped him pip the Norwegian striker to the award.
The World Cup was the one main trophy lacking from Messi’s resume as Argentina made amends for dropping the 2014 ultimate to Germany whereas in March he grew to become solely the third participant in historical past to attain 100 worldwide targets.
Messi additionally gained the Ligue 1 title with Paris St Germain earlier than shifting to Inter Miami, the place he helped the Main League Soccer aspect win the Leagues Cup — their first main trophy.
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please strive once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
Actual Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham gained the Kopa Trophy for the perfect Below-21 participant, whereas membership staff mate Vinicius Jr. was awarded the Socrates Award for his humanitarian work off the pitch.