Lionel Messi honored with Ballon d'Or award for the eighth time

Utkarsh Classes Last Updated 06-03-2024

Lionel Messi honored with Ballon d'Or award for the eighth time

Sport 5 min read

Inter Miami owner and football legend David Beckham honored famous footballer Lionel Messi (Argentina) with the prestigious Ballon d'Or Award on 31 October 2023.

Lionel Messi has been awarded the Ballon d'Or award for the eighth time. By winning this award, Lionel Messi has once again become the best football player in the world.

Also became the first MLS player to win the Ballon d'Or Award:

Messi has become the first Major League Soccer (MLS) player to win the Ballon d'Or award.
Inter Miami owner and football legend David Beckham have given this honor to Messi.

Messi wins Ballon d'Or for the eighth time:

Lionel Messi has also received the Ballon d'Or award in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2021 before 2023.
After Lionel Messi, only Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or five times.

Beating Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé to receive this award:

Messi beat Manchester City's Erling Haaland , French star and former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe for the award.
The 36-year-old Messi has also become the second oldest player to win the award as Stanley Matthews won the award in 1956 at the age of 48. Karim Benzema achieved this distinction last year at the age of 34.

Aitana Bonmati wins Women's Ballon d'Or 2023:

Aitana Bonmati (Spain) won the Women's Ballon d'Or, which is awarded to the world's best female football player.
Bonmati led Spain to the Women's World Cup title in August, scoring three goals, adding two assists and winning the Golden Ball for best player.
Aitana Bonmati also helped Barcelona win the Spanish League and its second Champions League title.
Bonmati defeated Australia's Sam Kerr and Barcelona teammate Salma Parluello to receive the award.

The other main Ballon d'Or winners of 2023 are:

Men's Club of the Year: Manchester City.
Women's Club of the Year: FC Barcelona.
Erling Haaland won the Gerd Muller Trophy, awarded to the highest-scoring player, after scoring 56 goals with Manchester City and Norway last year.
Argentina's Emiliano Martínez, who plays with Aston Villa, won the Yachin Trophy, awarded to the best goalkeeper.
Brazilian Vinicius Junior, who plays for Real Madrid, won the Socrates Award for his humanitarian work off the football field.
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham won the Copa Trophy, awarded to the best player in the under-21 game.

Ballon d'Or Award:

The Ballon d'Or is football's most prestigious award, an honor given to an individual player.
The Ballon d'Or is called the Golden Ball in French and is considered the most prestigious individual award in football, more than any other.
It is awarded annually to a football club and national team player for their best performance.
Only the best male and female football players in the world deserve it.
Every year since 1956, men are honored with this award for their best performance.
The tradition of giving the Ballon d'Or to the best female players has been started from 2018.
The award could not be given due to the Covid pandemic in 2020.