Lionel Messi won the men’s Ballon d’Or for a record eighth time in his career on Monday, becoming the first MLS player to do so. But as great as his performance has been with Inter Miami, it was his role in carrying Argentina to the World Cup title last year that earned him the prestigious prize.
The Argentina star, who last won the Ballon d’Or in 2021, won ahead of his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland this time around. Aitana Bonmati, a Spain’s Women’s World Cup winner, won the 2023 women’s Ballon d’Or.
David Beckham presented the award to Messi, who thanked everyone involved in making his victory possible during his speech, including his teammates and coaching staff. Watch him win the award below:
No one has won more Ballon d’Or awards than Messi — Cristiano Ronaldo has five, and Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten each have three.
As a way to celebrate the historic win, why not step into the world of the greatest player of all time yourself? At The Messi Experience, a brand-new immersive exhibit coming to Miami, journey through Messi’s life and career, from the boy in Argentina with a dream to the World Cup legend he is today.
Get tickets to The Messi Experience: A Dream Come True here.