Lionel Messi, captain of the Argentine national team, has won the Ballon d'Or for Best Player in the World for the eighth time, extending his record after surpassing Norwegian Erling Haaland, the best player in Europe and the treble winner with Manchester City. Messi, now a star with Inter Miami, last won this award in 2021 and played a pivotal role in leading Argentina to its first World Cup title in 36 years in Qatar last year. The 36-year-old player now has three more Ballon d'Or awards than rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who won his last of five in 2017.
Messi has now been among the top three 14 times in total, a record, and has finished second on five occasions. He stated, "I never imagined having such a wonderful career with all the achievements I've accomplished and the luck I had playing with the best team in the world, the best team in history. It's amazing to win these individual awards. Winning the Copa America and then the World Cup is incredible."
He added, "Every Ballon d'Or I received holds a special place for different reasons." Messi told Reuters, "I am happy to receive this recognition thanks to what we (as players) have achieved with the national team. This title (World Cup) that we have aimed for many years makes it even more special."
When asked if he would continue until the 2026 World Cup, Messi replied, "I don't think about that. I will enjoy (my career) day by day. There will be a Copa America first in the United States (in 2024). As for the World Cup, I am not thinking about it right now."
Messi, who won the Ballon d'Or for the first time in his career in 2009 and won it four times in a row until 2012, finished second behind Haaland in the UEFA awards in August. Haaland, 23, was among the leading candidates for his first Ballon d'Or after scoring 52 goals in 53 matches across all competitions last season, helping City win the UEFA Champions League, the Premier League, and the FA Cup.
However, Messi's stellar performance in the World Cup in Qatar, where he won the Golden Ball for Best Player and the Silver Boot (seven goals and three assists), helped him surpass the Norwegian striker for the award. The World Cup was the only major tournament that eluded Messi until Argentina avenged its loss to Germany in the 2014 final, while he became the third player in history to score 100 international goals in March. Messi also won the French league title with Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Inter Miami, where he helped the team win the Leagues Cup, the first major title in the club's history.
