Lionel Messi clinched the 2023 Ballon d’Or on Monday at a ceremony held at the Châtelet Theatre in Paris, winning the prestigious award – which honours the season’s best player – for the eighth time in his career.
Last season the 36-year-old Argentine striker played for Paris Saint-Germain before transferring to Inter Miami in July. On Monday he triumphed over Norwegian Erling Haaland (Manchester City) and Frenchman Kylian Mbappé (PSG), who came second and third respectively. Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) placed fourth.
The Ballon d’Or is no longer awarded based on yearly performance. It focuses instead on the football season, so the Qatar World Cup was a factor. In December, Messi led Argentina to their third World Cup victory, scoring seven goals and earning the title of the tournament’s best player.
Messi’s club season was more challenging. While he helped PSG to win the French Championship with six goals, he could not prevent an early elimination – in the round of 16 – in the Champions League. Messi left PSG for Inter Miami in mid-July, where he captured the Leagues Cup involving American and Mexican clubs.
With his victory in the 67th edition of the trophy, Messi added an eighth Ballon d’Or to his impressive record, following his wins in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.
Holding the record for most wins, he has further widened the gap between himself and other multi-award winners; long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo has five, while Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, and Marco van Basten each have three.
Messi succeeds Frenchman Karim Benzema.
The jury comprised 100 journalists from the top 100 world footballing nations.
