The winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or has been announced and Lionel Messi has won a record-extending eighth award.

The Inter Miami and Argentina striker, who played for Paris Saint-Germain last season, captained Argentina to the World Cup in Qatar last December, ending a 36-year wait for the South American country. Messi, 36, has won the award three times more than anyone else.

Lionel Messi was named the Ballon d’Or 2023 winner at a ceremony in Paris on Monday, the eighth time he has won the prestigious award.

Messi captained Argentina to 2022 World Cup success in Qatar last winter, the first time he won the tournament which ended a 36-year wait for La Albiceleste.

The 36-year-old scored twice in a blockbuster final against France in December which finished 3-3 after extra-time, scored in the penalty shoot-out and was named player of the match.

Messi fought off competition from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and former Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Kylian Mbappe, as well as 26 other nominees to win the award.

In a league title-winning season for PSG, he played 41 matches during the 2022/23 season, scored 21 goals and provided 20 assists.

At the World Cup in Qatar, Messi scored twice in the group stage and was on target in each knockout round, scoring against Australia, the Netherlands and Croatia, and then in the final.

He finished second in the top goalscorer charts with seven goals and received the Golden Ball at the conclusion of the tournament in recognition of his fine campaign.

On stage, he said: "Thank you very much, to share this with my national team-mates for what we were able to achieve with the national team.

"The entire group, the coaching staff, everyone involved. I’m delighted to be here once more to be able to enjoy this moment one more time.

"To be able to win the World Cup and really achieve my dream, to share this with all those who were involved."Fittingly, after his World Cup success, he added: "To finish, I want to say happy birthday to Diego Maradona."

After his contract at PSG ran out in the summer, Messi moved to Inter Miami in MLS on a free transfer and was one of three players nominated for the award who do not currently play in Europe.

The former Barcelona forward spent 17 years with the Spanish club between 2004 and 2021 and also won the award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.

He was 22 years old when he won his first in 2009 and 14 years later has sealed a record eighth award.

Jokerman:
Better picture here 👇

Rahkman:
My camel ronaldo will win next year own, in the mighty name of Allahu akbar amen!

AImiron:
.

AImiron:
At 36 year old Lionel Messi still holding off the next generation. He’s the greatest footballer ever liveth, no doubt about that, only penadogs disagree cos they live in their own world which is full of fantasies. Everything Penado dream off in his enter life, Messi did it already and surpass am, I wonder what’s going through his mind right now cos he has been forgotten. 😂😂

I remember when he equalled Messi’s number of D’ors at 5, a journalist asked him if the competition with Leo is over now since they have the same number of awards, he said “it’s just getting started “ modafucka empty barrel…fast forward Leo has 3 more that the loser and topped it with a World Cup, what a sad ending for him, these kind of pain no dey heal, if he like make e score 5000 goals all na wash, good riddance 😂😂😂.

I remember when Messi was asked the same question, earlier this year by a CNN reporter, when he won the Laurel awards, the reporter asked him “Now that you have won the World Cup does that validates your status as the 🐐”… Messi smiled and replied “ I don’t care about individual awards”

Goat or no goat conversations no concern leo, he has never mistakenly or intentionally add “goat” to any of his post ever, na we his fans Dey tag am, things like that no dey move am…. But you see that desert, egomaniac, renowned failure, empty barrel go Dey mumu himself dey call him sef goat, who dash monkey banana, he can only be that in his mind and that of his delusional fanbase who has zero knowledge of football.

I will make reference to day he congratulated King James when he got the highest point in the NBA history, the oloribu tag himself dey call am fellow goat, Ojuelegba goat…😂😂😂

The greatest achievement of penado is being compared to Leo.

Leo is up there with the legends Pele and Maradona, pendu is a nonentity. King of Luxembourg and Sheikh of Al Waziri fc.


PS: Penadogs as usual make una cry in my mentions. I love una tears. ENSR!!! 😂😂

Rahkman:
My camel ronaldo will win next year own, in the mighty name of Allahu akbar amen!

Ddonoflife:
Pain went straight to the camel league(Fc Walahi Talai) in the Desert