In a momentous victory, Lionel Messi, the forward from Argentina and Inter Miami, secured his eighth Men’s Ballon d’Or award. The 36-year-old football legend was honored at the prestigious ceremony held in Paris, a recognition for his pivotal role in leading his country to triumph in the World Cup held in Qatar last year.
Jude Bellingham, the talented midfielder from England and Real Madrid, clinched the Kopa Trophy, an accolade bestowed upon the world’s most outstanding player under the age of 21.
Messi’s historic win marked a record-breaking extension of his Ballon d’Or legacy, surpassing Manchester City’s formidable forward Erling Haaland. The prolific French forward, Kylian Mbappe, who astounded the world with a World Cup final hat-trick, finished in third place after a hard-fought 4-2 penalty shootout loss to Argentina.
Reflecting on his remarkable achievement, Messi expressed his gratitude, stating, “It’s nice to be here once more to enjoy this moment. To be able to win the World Cup and achieve my dream.”
The former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain star went on to share, “I couldn’t imagine having the career I’ve had and everything I’ve achieved, the fortune I’ve had to be part of the best team in history. All of them [Ballon d’Or awards] are special for different reasons.”
Erling Haaland, the Norwegian international, left an indelible mark with a record-breaking 36 goals in 35 league games, and an astounding total of 52 across all competitions, contributing significantly to City’s triumphant Treble in the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup. For his outstanding goal-scoring prowess, Haaland received the Gerd Muller Trophy.
Expressing his gratitude, Haaland acknowledged, “I want to thank Manchester City, the whole club. I also want to thank my family and all the people around me for making me who I am today.”