- By Himanshu Badola
- Tue, 31 Oct 2023 07:38 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Ballon d'Or 2023: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami CF star, clinched the Ballond'Or for a record eighth time in his career as he claimed the trophy of the 2023 edition ahead of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland after leading Argentina to the World Cup last year.
The 36-year-old Messi created history as he became the first-ever MLS-based player to win the coveted prize, although the triumph came largely on the back of his heroics with Argentina in Qatar last year.
Former Manchester United player and Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham handed his prize-signing Messi the award in Paris.
Haaland didn't go empty-handed from the ceremony as he ended up winning the Gerd Muller Trophy, crowned as the best striker of the year for his remarkable tally of 52 goals to help Manchester City their first-ever treble in the 2022-23 season.
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"I couldn't imagine having the career that I've had. Everything that I've achieved," Messi said after getting his award. "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. All of them (Ballon d'Or awards) are special for different reasons."
Ahead of Messi, it was his former club from Spain that bossed the night as Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí won the Ballon d'Or Feminin after a record-breaking year with club and country.
Bonmati played a key role in helping the club win Liga F and the Champions League last season, before winning the World Cup in the summer by beating a strong England side in the final.
Talking about other awards handed out on Monday, Messi's Argentina teammate Emiliano Martinez won the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper while England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was handed the Kopa Trophy as the world's top player under the age of 21.
While giving his addressing and thanking speech, Messi also mentioned his footballing idol and his Argentina countryman Diego Maradona, wishing him a happy birthday.
Maradona, who won the 1986 World Cup with Argentina, died on Nov. 22, 2020, and would have celebrated his 63rd birthday on Monday.
"My last mention is for Diego (Maradona)," Messi said. "Today is his birthday. So I would like to remember him from here, surrounded by the best players, coaches, and people who love football like he did.
"Wherever you are, Diego, happy birthday. This goes also to you."
Notably, no player has won more Ballon d'Or trophies than Messi and even before declaring as a winner, the former Barcelona star was leading the charts.
Messi, who won the prestigious for the first time in 2009, went on to just add to his tally as he repeated the brilliance in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2021.
His long-time rival Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo stands second on the list, having won the prize five times followed by Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, and Marco van Basten who all are three-time winners.
Talking about stats, Messi scored 21 goals in 41 appearances to help Paris Saint Germain retain their Ligue 1 title before he moved out for a massive change and joined Inter Miami in the US.
He has been in the headlines in MLS since his move as he has scored 11 goals in 14 games for Miami, helping the franchise win its first-ever piece of silverware, the Leagues Cup.
It was Messi's legendary World Cup performances on the biggest stage with Argentina in Qatar last year that promised him the Ballon d'Or this year as he ended the 36-year-long wait for his nation to become World Champion again.
Messi contributed massively to the success of his national team, scoring seven goals and assisting three more as he was named as the Player of the Tournament.
He scored a brace in the final against France as Lionel Scaloni's team created history by edging past Didier Deschamps's side on penalties.
It was said that Messi has completed football after winning the World Cup after he missed out on the trophy a few times and came closer in 2014 but missed out after losing against Germany in the final.
The star footballer already had remarkable success at the club level, having won loads of trophies with Barcelona and added a few more with PSG but it was the success with the national team that kept him under the radar for so long.
He got off the mark with Argentina in 2021 when he won the Copa America and followed it with what turned out to be one of the great footballing stories of this generation.
At 36 years and four months old, he also becomes the second oldest player to ever win the Ballon d'Or, replacing last year's winner Karim Benzema. Only the inaugural winner, Stanley Matthews in 1956, was older when he won it aged 41.
Ballon d'Or 2023: List of all award winners
Ballon d'Or: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)
Ballon d'Or Feminin: Aitana Bonmatí (FC Barcelona Femeni, Spain)
Kopa Trophy for the best male U-21 player: Jude Bellingham(Real Madrid, England)
Yachine Trophy for the best male goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, Argentina)
Gerd Muller Trophy for the highest-scoring male striker: Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
Socrates Award to acknowledge humanitarian work Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid, Brazil)
Club of the Year: Manchester City and FC Barcelona Femeni
