Ballon d’Or 2023 Winners:
- Lionel Messi wins Ballon d’Or for record eighth time
- Aitana Bonmati wins Ballon d’Or Feminin
- Jude Bellingham wins Kopa trophy for best young player
- Vinicius Jr wins Socrates award; Emiliano Martinez best men’s goalkeeper
- Barcelona win women’s club award, Manchester City win men’s
- Erling Haaland wins Gerd Muller Trophy for best goal scorer
Lionel Messi, the Argentian team captain, star player for Inter Miami CF, has won the Ballon d’Or for a record eighth time. He secured this prestigious award by leading Argentina to World Cup victory in Qatar.
Messi, 36, is the first MLS-based player to claim the Ballon d’Or. He was presented the award by former Manchester United player and Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham. M
anchester City striker Erling Haaland finished second in the voting and received the Gerd Muller Trophy for the best striker of the year.
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Messi expressed his gratitude and mentioned the importance of his career and winning individual trophies. He also mentioned his pride in winning the Copa America and the World Cup.
In the women’s category, Aitana Bonmatí, a Barcelona and Spain midfielder, won the Ballon d’Or Féminin for her outstanding performances with her club and country.
Messi’s victory makes him the player with the most Ballon d’Or awards, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo, with eight to his name. Messi’s recent success came after leading Argentina to their third World Cup title, ending a 36-year wait.
This win also marks a historic moment as Messi is the second-oldest player to ever win the Ballon d’Or, at 36 years and four months, with only Stanley Matthews being older when he won it in 1956 at the age of 41.
Messi’s previous Ballon d’Or awards were achieved during his time with Barcelona, and one after joining Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) following Argentina’s Copa America triumph.
