2023 Ballon d’Or Award : Lionel Messi Lifts Eighth Trophy

Argentina’s Lionel Messi often described by fans as “The Messiah” or better still “The Greatest Of All Times” (G.O.A.T) has continued to make history as he won his eighth Ballon d’Or award on Monday, October 30, 2023. It was a return to the French capital after his departure from PSG and his subsequent move to Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer. 
Lionel Messi won the sport’s biggest individual prize principally due to his tremendous World Cup. In Qatar, Messi was very instrumental, scoring seven goals. He scored twice in the final against France. Again, Messi joined Inter Miami in July and had an immediate impact, helping the team to win a historic first trophy-the League’s cup and advanced to the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final to play in the first-ever final at the Club’s DRV PNK Stadium. In all, he made 14 appearances across all competitions, registering 11 goals in his first half season as an Inter Miami player. All these worked to his favour as he was once again elected best player.
The 36-year-old has previously won the Ballon D’Or award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.  He now takes over from Karim Benzeme who won last year’s edition of the Award.  Nobody else has won more than five Ballon d’Or. Cristiano Ronaldo has five. In the classification of this year’s Ballon d’Or, Cameroon’s André Onana finished 23rd while Lionel Messi was cl...