The FIFA World Cup-winning Argentina legend Lionel
Messi was crowned with the prestigious Ballon d’Or award for the eighth time in
his decorated career on Monday, an award that serves as a reminder of his
brilliance as he reaches the final moments of his career.
With this award, Messi became the first player from
Major League Soccer (MLS) to win the prestigious award. He represents the club
Inter Miami.
Messi was presented with the award by none other than
English football icon David Beckham, the owner of Inter Miami. He previously won the award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012,
2015, 2019 and 2021.
The young boy from Santa Fe who made his first
appearance in 2004 has enjoyed a career that can be deemed nothing short of a
fairytale.
Messi’s career which lasted for almost 30 years saw
him heartbroken in 2014 after missing out on the World Cup and eight years
later channelling the inner Maradona and redeeming himself by bringing the most
prized possession – the World Cup trophy back to his homeland, Argentina.
His seven goals in the tournament raised a glimmer of
hope in the hearts of each of his fans, who dreamed of lifting him the World
Cup trophy after Argentina lost unexpectedly to Saudi Arabia.
Messi, who conquered France in the World Cup final,
later went on to become Ligue 1’s leading assist provider for French Giants
Paris Saint Germain.
The Argentinian maestro won the Laureus Award for best
male athlete of 2022 ahead of class athletes such as Rafael Nadal, Kylian
Mbappe and Stephen Curry.
It was the second time Messi, won a Laureus –
considered a sports Oscar – after securing it for the first time in 2020, an
award he then shared with British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton.
Messi was also honoured as the Best Men’s in February
during the Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony which once again showcased his
on-field prowess.
Erling Haaland, Manchester City’s star striker who won
a treble with the club in the 2022-23 season and French and Paris Saint Germain
(PSG) star Kylian Mbappe were placed second and third respectively.
Aitana Bonmati, the Spanish footballer representing FC
Barcelona and the winner of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup got the Women’s
Ballon d’Or award, which was presented by Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic.
She was also the best player in the aforementioned tournament.
Manchester City won the title of ‘Club of the Year’.
In the season 2022-23, the club won a treble, ie the Premier League, FA Cup and
UEFA Champions League. They also captured the UEFA Super Cup this year.
Star Manchester City striker Erling Haaland was
awarded the ‘Gerd Muller Trophy’ for the Best Striker of the Year. Haaland
secured a treble of Championship titles with Manchester City in the 2022-23
season, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.
Haaland went on a monumental goal-scoring spree, with
a total of 56 goals in a single season, which was also his debut season with
City. He broke the record for most goals by a Premier League player across all
competitions in a season.
The ‘Yachine Trophy’ for the Goalkeeper of the Year
went to Aston Villa FC and Argentina’s FIFA World Cup 2022 winning star
Emiliano Martinez.
Jude Bellingham, the 20-year-old English midfielder
currently playing for Spanish giants Real Madrid, was given the ‘Kopa Trophy’
for the best U21 player. He previously played for German giants Borussia
Dortmund.
Vinicius Junior, the Brazillian winger representing
Real Madrid, was given the ‘Socrates Award’ for founding Instituto Vini Jr for
for education of young Brazillians through sports and technology.
FC Barcelona was given the women’s ‘Club of the Year’
award.
The ceremony was attended by many notable names from
the world of football.
ANI
