Football’s Ballon d’Or trophies were handed out late Monday evening in Paris.
The best male player in the world was crowned for the eighth time in his career, representing Argentina and Inter Miami Lionel Messi36.
Messi, who made Argentina the world champion, had previously been selected as the best soccer player in the world in 2009 (Golden ball and Fifa player of the year), 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021. Messi scored seven goals in the World Cup tournament in Qatar and was named the best player of the games.
Messi did four historic things on Monday. He is the only player to win the title eight times, at the age of 36 he is the oldest player to win the Ballon d’Or and at the same time the first male player to win the title in a non-European club team.
In addition, Messi is the first player to have won the Ballon d’Or trophy in three different clubs.
The Norwegian who came second in the Ballon d’Or voting Erling Haaland led his club Manchester City to three titles last season and scored a whopping 52 goals in all competitions.
The top man of Paris Saint Germain and France Kylian Mbappe ranked third in the voting. He scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final, where France lost to Argentina on penalties.
Last year’s best male player in the world was a French goalscoring monster Karim Benzema.
The title of the world’s best female soccer player was won by the 25-year-old midfielder of world champion Spain and FC Barcelona Fence Bonmatiwho scored three goals and provided two assists in the World Cup.
Bonmati scored 19 goals last season, including all series. She has previously won the European football association UEFA’s trophy for the best female soccer player and the Golden Ball for the best player of the World Cup held in August.
Australian Sam Kerr was second in the vote and Spain’s Salma Parallel life third.
The previous two Ballon d’Or titles had gone to Bonmat’s underdog, FC Barcelona to Alexia Putellas.