Argentina football team captain, Lionel Messi has been announced as the winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or, with a record-extending eighth award.
Messi captained Argentina to the World Cup in Qatar last December, ending a 36-year wait for the South American country.
The 36 year old football talisman has won the award three times more than anyone else.
His foray in the world cup is the major determinant for the award, having 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.
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Messi piped Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and former Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Kylian Mbappe, as well as 26 other nominees to win the award.
Last season for PSG, Messi played 41 matches during the 2022/23 season, scored 21 goals and provided 20 assists.
At the World Cup in Qatar, Messi 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.
While receiving the award, 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."
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