Argentina’s Lionel Messi, world champion, won his eighth Ballon d’Or this Monday, October 30, succeeding Karim Benzema who was crowned a year ago. The former PSG player arrived ahead of Manchester City player, Erling Haaland, and his ex-club teammate, Kylian Mbappé. Among the women, the Spaniard Aitana Bonmati was crowned.
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The 2023 Ballon d’Or was undoubtedly played a little less than a year ago, on the evening of the World Cup final won by Lionel Messi’s Argentina against Kylian Mbappé’s France. That evening, there was almost no room for doubt; the ex-Barça player had every chance of winning his eighth BO by lifting the only cup missing from his immense record. “ It wouldn’t be logical not to give the Ballon d’Or to the best player in history, in a year when he won the World Cup. », Estimated Belgian player Eden Hazard on the eve of the announcement of the winner.
This Monday, at the Châtelet theater in Paris, under the eyes of the former Bulgarian Ballon d’Or, Hristo Stoichkov (1994), the coach of the French team, Didier Deschamps or the world number 1 in men’s tennis, Novak Djokovic, Lionel Messi once again won the Ballon d’Or for the eighth time and improved his record, ahead of his closest pursuer, Cristiano Ronaldo (5 Ballons d’Or).
Mbappé-Haaland, a duel for the future
It is a monumental achievement for the Argentinian which sets the bar at a height which will be very difficult to reach in the coming years by his announced successors, Haaland and Mbappé. It is, without doubt, the last Ballon d’Or, but certainly not the least successful for the man who went into exile in the American championship, at Inter Miami, moving away from high-level football.
The 36-year-old left his mark on the last World Cup with seven goals, including two in the final, and that was enough, despite a disappointing season with PSG, to put him ahead of Erling Haaland. The Champions League trophy undoubtedly allowed the Norwegian to get ahead of Frenchman Kylian Mbappé. Voted UEFA player of the year in August, Haaland finished top scorer in the English championship (36 goals in 35 matches) and the Champions League (12 in 11 matches). But, he did not qualify for the World Cup. This year he will be satisfied with the Gerd Muller Trophy, awarded to the top scorer of the year (56 goals).
The PSG striker also had solid arguments for having been top scorer in the World Cup (8 goals) and responded to Messi in the final with a sparkling hat-trick. He will surely have missed a great performance in the Champions League to hope to beat the Argentinian to the post.
Among the women, the Spaniard Aitana Bonmati succeeded the double winner and teammate in selection and at Barça Alexia Putellas. The La Roja player won the Women’s World Cup this summer and the Champions League this season.
The Kopa trophy, which recognizes the best young player of the season, aged under 21, was awarded to the Englishman Jude Bellingham, transferred this summer from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, where he has been breaking all records since the start of the season.
The 2023 prize list
Men’s Ballon d’Or: Lionel Messi (Argentina, Inter Miami)
Women’s Golden Ball: Aitana Bonmati (Spain, FC Barcelona)
Kopa Trophy (best youngster): Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer): Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
Lev Yachine Trophy (best goalkeeper): Emiliano Martinez (Argentina, Aston Villa)
Club of the Year: Manchester City (H); FC Barcelona (F)
Sócrates Prize: Vinicius Jr (Brazil, Real Madrid)