Lonel Messi is poised to lift the Ballon d’Or later for the eight time this month after the winners for both the male and female awards for 2023 were leaked by a Spanish newspaper, the Sport.
Messi, 36, achieved the crowning glory of his unparalleled career when he spectacularly led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar last year. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain megastar then joined Inter Miami in July and immediately set MLS alight with a string of spellbinding performances.
The Argentine’s eighth trophy will extend his record as the most-decorated recipient of the award, and will see him reclaim the Ballon d’Or after it went to Al-Ittihad’s Karim Benzema in 2022. He has long been the frontrunner to scoop the top prize at the awards ceremony in Paris at the end of October, after captaining Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
After missing out on the 2022 award to Karim Benzema, Messi has reportedly been informed of his victory this time around ahead of the ceremony taking place in Paris on Monday, October 30. As for the female award, Catalan newspaper Sport add that Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati will be presented as the winner at the Chatelet Theater, having won the Women’s World Cup with Spain after beating England in August’s dramatic final.
Messi’s imminent triumph will see the Ballon d’Or awarded to someone who plays outside of Europe for the first time in history and take him three clear of eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo. The 36-year-old faced fierce competition from Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and ex-PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe but is set to come out on top thanks to his heroics in Qatar.
Haaland won the treble with City last season by scoring a phenomenal 52 goals in 53 games. Mbappe, meanwhile, memorably bagged a hat-trick in the World Cup final against Messi’s Argentina and performed well during an underwhelming campaign for PSG.
Messi may be the most decorated footballer in history but maintains that he’s never given the Ballon d’Or much “importance”. The Argentine forward explained shortly after joining Inter Miami, co-owned by David Beckham: “I have said it many times, the Ballon d’Or is very important due to the recognition at the individual level, but I never gave it importance.
Since winning football’s most celebrated tournament, Messi has made the move from the European game to MLS, joining David Beckham’s Inter Miami during this summer’s transfer window.
Sport reports that the votes have been counted and that Messi has comfortably been crowned as the winner of football’s most prestigious individual award. It marks the eighth Ballon d’Or that Messi has won during his legendary career.
According to the newspaper, the votes have been counted and that Messi has comfortably been crowned as the winner of football’s most prestigious individual award. It marks the eighth Ballon d’Or that Messi has won during his legendary career. The current holder of the Ballon d’Or is Karim Benzema.
Ballon d’Or shortlist
Karim Benzema Al-Ittihad
Josko Gvardiol Man City
Jamal Musiala Bayern
Andre Onana Man Utd
Mohamed Salah Liverpool
Randal Kolo Muani PSG
Jude Bellingham Real Madrid
Kevin de Bruyne Man City
Bernardo Silva Man City
Bukayo Saka Arsenal
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Napoli
Nicolo Barella Inter
Emiliano Martinez Aston Villa
Ruben Dias Man City
Erling Haaland Man City
Yassine Bounou Al-Hilal
Martin Odegaard Arsenal
Julian Alvarez Man City
Ilkay Gundogan Barcelona
Vinicius Jr Real Madrid
Lionel Messi Inter Miami
Rodri Man City
Lautaro Martinez Inter
Antoine Griezmann Atletico Madrid
Robert Lewandowski Barcelona
Kim Min-jae Bayern
Luka Modric Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe PSG
Victor Osimhen Napoli
Harry Kane Bayern
- A Tell / Agencies report
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