ARGENTINEAN football star Lionel Messi captured his eighth Ballon d’Or or Golden Ball award at a glittering ceremony the Chatelet Theatre in Paris, France on Monday night (Tuesday, Manila time).
The Inter Miami CF star edged out France’s Kylian Mbappé and Norway’s Erling Haaland to win what is regarded as football’s most prestigious and valuable individual award.
“This is a gift to the whole Argentina team for what we achieved,” said Messi, dedicated the trophy to late Argentina legend Diego Maradona, who would have celebrated his 63rd birthday on Monday.
Messi benefited from a recent change in Ballon d’Or winner determination, where the award is now based on a player’s record over the last season rather than over the course of the calendar year.
The 36-year-old Messi had a remarkable campaign during the recent season, as he led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup championship against previous champion France.
Messi also scored 21 goals for French football club Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 before he transferred to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer months ago.
Prior to this year, Messi had previously won the Ballon d’Or award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2021.
It remains to be seen if Messi will again feature in the running for the prize, which is voted for by one journalist in each of the top 100 nations in the FIFA ranking.
“I am not thinking about the long-term future. I am just enjoying the day to day at the moment,” said Messi.
Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati, meanwhile, took home the Ballon d’Or in the women’s side after leading her country to its first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup crown last August.
The 25-year-old Bonmati also starred as FC Barcelona won the Champions League last season and was recently named as the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year.
“It is difficult to improve on this. It has been a unique year,” Bonmati said. “If anyone said to me when I was little that I would play at the Camp Nou, win the World Cup, two Champions Leagues, a Ballon d’Or, a UEFA award, these are extraordinary things.”/PN
