France: Argentine footballer Lionel Messi has won his 8th Ballon d’Or, while Spain’s Aitana Bonmati won the Women’s Ballon d’Or in a ceremony in the Chatelet Theatre in Paris.
Messi earned the trophy for his career performance, especially his 2022 Qatar World Cup, for which he bought the dreamy trophy home. The player scored a total of seven goals in the matches and became the best player of the 2022 World Cup.
The other competitors for this award were Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland and France’s Kylian Mbappe. Haaland won the Gerd Muller Trophy for his record-breaking goal haul last season.
The 36-year-old player received the award from David Beckham, owner of Inter Miami. Messi has won his other Ballon d’Or trophies in the years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2021. Messi now plays for Inter Miami after his departure from Paris Saint-Germain in June 2023.
“I couldn’t imagine having the career that I’ve had. Everything that I’ve achieved. The fortune I’ve had playing for the best team in the world, the best team in history. It’s nice to win these individual trophies. To win the Copa America and then the World Cup, to get it done, is amazing,” the 36-year-old player said.
Messi dedicated his trophy to the Argentine legendary footballer. Diego Maradona. He also said this would be his last Ballon d’Or win.
Bonmati won her first Ballon d’Or trophy for her performance in the maiden World Cup. She was named the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year. The Barcelona midfielder beat Chelsea and Australia striker Sam Kerr.
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