31-10-2023 (PARIS) Lionel Messi has made history by securing his eighth Ballon d’Or, a record-breaking achievement in his illustrious career. This achievement was largely attributed to his pivotal role in Argentina’s triumphant World Cup campaign in Qatar.
What makes this Ballon d’Or even more remarkable is that Messi was the first player to win the prestigious award while playing for a club outside of Europe, defying convention.
Interestingly, Messi wasn’t even among the top 30 candidates for the Ballon d’Or last year, adding an element of surprise to his victory this time around.
During the awards ceremony in Paris on Monday, David Beckham had the honor of presenting Messi with the Ballon d’Or. Upon receiving the accolade, Messi expressed his gratitude, saying, “Above all, I have to congratulate everyone who was nominated for this award. I have to share this award with my teammates and everything we achieved with the national team. The entire group, the coaching staff, and everyone involved played their part in winning the World Cup. Hats off to Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Kevin De Bruyne for having fantastic seasons. Many of you are young and have achieved so much already. There’s plenty of time left to be standing in my position. I’m delighted to be here once more to enjoy this moment one more time. I achieved my dream of winning the World Cup, but I share this with all those who were involved.”
In a significant development, Aitana Bonmati, a midfielder for Barcelona and Spain, clinched the women’s Ballon d’Or award. Her achievement was a result of her contribution to Spain’s World Cup success and her triumph in the Champions League with Barcelona.
Upon receiving the award, Bonmati said, “I’m very proud to win the Ballon d’Or. Football is a collective sport, so I’d like to extend this prize to my teammates and staff.”
The runner-up in the women’s Ballon d’Or was Chelsea striker Sam Kerr, followed by Barcelona and Spain winger Salma Paralluelo in third place, and Fridolina Rolfo of Barcelona and Sweden in fourth.
Furthermore, Erling Haaland was honored with the Gerd Muller Trophy for his remarkable achievements. Haaland scored an astounding 52 goals in his debut season with Manchester City, setting a record for the most goals scored in a single Premier League campaign with 36 goals in 35 appearances.
Haaland also made history as the first player in the Premier League to score hat-tricks in three consecutive home games. Reflecting on his achievement, Haaland offered a piece of advice to young strikers, saying, “If I had to give one piece of advice to any young striker, it is to stay hungry. To always be ready and always be in the moment. To stay sharp and to want to score, to have this feeling that I had quite a few times last season. It’s an amazing feeling, which is why I always want to do it more. I’m always chasing this feeling.”
Jude Bellingham, a midfielder for Real Madrid and England, secured the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young player in world football. In his acceptance speech, Bellingham expressed his gratitude to everyone who played a role in his career, from Birmingham City to Borussia Dortmund and now at Real Madrid. He also acknowledged his family’s support and emphasized his commitment to achieving success both with Real Madrid and the England national team.
Lastly, Manchester City was named the Men’s Club of the Year. This prestigious recognition was a result of their remarkable treble success last season, where they won the Premier League, the Champions League, and the FA Cup. City’s CEO, Ferran Soriano, acknowledged the collective effort behind the club’s success, stating, “We all enjoyed a very good season, but we all know that it was not the product of one season. It’s the product of a lot of hard work. We’re here because of these extraordinary players, our coaches, our football director, but behind them are a lot of people who have been working at the club for a long time. It’s more than a decade of hard work. It’s an honour to receive this for a second year in a row.”
Emi Martinez, the World Cup-winning goalkeeper for Aston Villa and Argentina, was honored with the Yachin Trophy. Martinez expressed his gratitude, acknowledging the vital role played by his teammates in the Argentina national team in achieving this recognition. He described winning the World Cup as the highlight of his career and dedicated the award to all those who contributed to his success, including his family and, notably, his father.
