At a ceremony in Paris on Monday, Lionel Messi was declared the winner of the Ballon d’Or 2023. This is his eighth consecutive year to earn the esteemed prize.
Last winter, Messi led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It was the first time he had won the competition, ending a 36-year drought for La Albiceleste.
The 36-year-old was named player of the match and scored twice in a thrilling December final against France that ended 3-3 after extra time. He also scored in the penalty shootout. To win the prize, Messi had to overcome opposition from 26 other nominations, including Erling Haaland of Manchester City and Kylian Mbappe, his former teammate at Paris Saint-Germain. Messi scored twice during the group stage of the World Cup in Qatar. He also scored against Australia, the Netherlands, Croatia, and the final, all on target. With seven goals, he came in second on the all-time goalscorer standings and was awarded the Golden Ball at the tournament’s end for an excellent campaign.