Ballon D’or 2023 winner is Lionel Messi
The 2023 Ballon d’Or winner has been announced, and Lionel Messi has earned a record-extending eighth award.
The Inter Miami and Argentina striker, who spent last season with Paris Saint-Germain, led Argentina to the World Cup in Qatar last December, ending a 36-year wait for the South American country. Messi, 36, has won the accolade three times, the most of any player.
Lionel Messi was crowned the Ballon d’Or 2023 winner on Monday at a ceremony in Paris, his eighth time winning the prestigious award.
Last winter, Messi lead Argentina to 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar, the first time he had won the championship, which ended a 36-year drought for La Albiceleste.
The 36-year-old scored twice in a nail-biting final against France in December, which ended 3-3 after extra time, and also scored in the penalty shoot-out, earning him player of the match honors.
Messi fought off competition from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and former Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Kylian Mbappe, as well as 26 other nominees to win the award.
In a league title-winning season for PSG, he played 41 matches during the 2022/23 season, scored 21 goals and provided 20 assists.
At the World Cup in Qatar, Messi scored twice in the group stage and was on target in each knockout round, scoring against Australia, the Netherlands and Croatia, and then in the final.
LIONEL MESSI IS THE 2023 MEN’S BALLON D’OR!
— Int. Miami(Parody) (@Int_MiamiRd) October 30, 2023
Eight Ballon d’Or for Argentina hero! 🖐🤟#BallonDor#Messi pic.twitter.com/UKJfcRZ7hY
SOURCE: Xtratsports.com
