Messi beats Erling Haaland to become the first MLS player to win this accolade at the age of 36. According to the NYTimes, Messi obtained this award due to his outstanding performance during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he and his team won the World Cup.
Lionel Andres Messi, also known as Leo Messi, born in Rosario Argentina on June 24, 1987 is known as one of the greatest players ever to set foot in the football field. He was diagnosed at a young age with a growth deficiency, but FC Barcelona offered to pay for the treatment needed ($14,000), just so that he could play for them. At the age of 13, he joined FC Barcelona and at the age of 17 made his professional debut in October 2004. Ever since then, he has won several awards, some of them being 44 team trophies.
In the Ballon d’ Or ceremony Messi dedicated his award to Diego Maradona. Maradona was also considered one of the greatest soccer players playing for Argentina. Messi states, “My last mention is for Diego [Maradona]. 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 is also for you.”
“I want to thank and share this with everyone,” Messi humbly added. “The most important awards are the team awards,” he acknowledged to everyone who has helped him get where he is now.
His competitor, Erling Haaland from Norway who is currently playing in Manchester City, scored an astonishing 52 goals during the 2022-2023 season, which greatly helped his club win their first treble. According to Manchester city FC, he was also the top scorer for the Premier League and Champions League.
His other competitor, Kylian Mbappe is a French professional football player who plays a forward position for Paris Saint Germain and the France national team. In the 2022 World Cup, he became the second player to score a hat-trick in the Men’s World Cup final, according to ESPN.
In winning his 8th Ballon d’Or, Messi became the only one to win the greatest amount of Ballon d’Or in football history. For many, Messi is considered a legend.. In world football, Pep Guardiola, a Spanish professional football manager, states (via Mirror Football), “he[Messi] is the best. There’s no one else…the throne is his. Only he will decide when to leave it.”
