The 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony was held as scheduled at the Théâtre de Châtelet in Paris, France, and Lionel Messi once again stood on the podium of the Ballon d'Or to become the best footballer in the world. This is the eighth time he has won this award, setting an unsurpassed record.
His biggest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, has won the Ballon d'Or only five times. Lionel Messi's achievements make one wonder how he managed to stand on top of global football. The Ballon d'Or is a long-established and well-recognized award that has been one of football's highest accolades since it was first established in 1956.
The Ballon d'Or, once limited to European players, has been open to players from all over the world since 2007, regardless of nationality or club. And in this fierce competition, Messi became the first player to win the Ballon d'Or eight times. His success would not have been possible without his outstanding performances for the national team and club. In last year's FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Messi showed his strength and leadership. He scored two goals in the World Cup final and helped Argentina to a 36-year title. This title is of great symbolic significance for Messi, filling the only regret of his career.
From the 2006 World Cup in Germany to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Messi has been trying to chase the World Cup title. He experienced skepticism from fans and the media, and even wanted to quit the national team at one point. However, Messi never gave up, he persevered in the challenge, and finally achieved his dream. In addition to the World Cup title, Messi also has an excellent performance in club competitions. After joining Inter Miami, he scored 10 goals in the CONCACAF Cup to help the team win the title. Such a result not only made him a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or, but also attracted widespread attention and praise.
Messi's award is highly anticipated, with many, including Brazilian legend Ronaldinho, predicting that he will win the Ballon d'Or. Ronaldinho said that Messi scored two goals in the World Cup final to achieve the first title of his career, and he will be the player to win the eighth Ballon d'Or, leaving an even deeper impression. However, there are also those who disagree on this, arguing that Haaland deserves the Ballon d'Or. They believe that Messi's World Cup title is not the deciding factor in the Ballon d'Or.
Despite the controversy, Messi's Ballon d'Or is history. His rival Ronaldo's performance at the World Cup in Qatar was not satisfactory and could not be compared to Messi. Other young players such as Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe have achieved good results, but their chances are still after next year. Therefore, Messi will still be a player to watch in the future Ballon d'Or competition.
Lionel Messi's success is inseparable from his teamwork and individual efforts. His move to Major League Soccer (MLS) also added a new chapter to his career. He was the first player to win the Ballon d'Or without playing for a European club. His achievements have made him one of the greatest players of all time along with Brazilian ace Pele. Pele didn't win the Ballon d'Or, but he won three World Cups and set a record of more than 1,000 goals.
However, Messi's eight Ballon d'Or awards have made him the greatest player of all time. After Messi, there are some young players such as Haaland and Mbappe who are on the rise. They have achieved impressive results over the past year, finishing second and third respectively. However, their quality has not yet been fully shown, and next year will be the start of their official competition for the Ballon d'Or.
It is worth mentioning that the three candidates for Bayern Munich were also invited to the Ballon d'Or ceremony, but they decided not to participate due to the need to prepare for the upcoming matches. Lionel Messi's award has once again sparked debate about whether he is the best player of all time.
Regardless, however, his eight-time Ballon d'Or achievement has left him in football history forever. His achievements will inspire young players to keep working hard, chasing their dreams and creating their own legends.