Lionel Messi expressed his gratitude to the national team and the Argentine fans after winning the Ballon d’Or 2023 awards ceremony in Paris on October 30th.
“My award is tied to what I’ve achieved with the national team,” Messi said after winning the Ballon d’Or 2023. “This is a gift for the whole team and the entire nation of Argentina.”
Messi also mentioned Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, the runners-up in the competition. He believed that both of his competitors had an incredible year, both individually and as a team. “Haaland had an extraordinary year and won everything,” Messi added. “I do not doubt that in the coming years, he and Mbappe will win this award.”
Messi also acknowledged the presence of many young talents at the ceremony. He believed that with these players, he would continue to witness beautiful football in the future. Messi emphasized that while the generations of players may change, the level of excellence in football never diminishes.
Looking back on his career, Messi admitted that he never thought he would achieve all of his football goals as he has today. He attributed his success to playing for some of the best clubs in the world and history, such as Barcelona and the Argentine national team, making it easier for him to achieve both individual awards and team success.
Messi recalled the challenging moments with the Argentine national team, including their World Cup 2022 opening match loss to Saudi Arabia, where they fell 1-2. “I had some terrible moments and didn’t play well,” Messi added. “However, I never gave up. I fought relentlessly for the desire to win the Copa America and the World Cup. I am proud that I never stopped trying.”
After winning the Ballon d’Or 2023, Messi expressed his desire to continue enjoying football. The 36-year-old forward still wants to find joy in the sport, even though he no longer plays in Europe. “The only thing left is to continue enjoying football,” Messi said. “I have never stopped enjoying football. It’s what I love to do. As long as I can keep playing, I will continue to enjoy it.”
The Ballon d’Or 2023 is Messi’s eighth Ballon d’Or in his career. Previously, he won the award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2021. Messi set a new record for the most Ballon d’Or wins and increased the gap with the second-placed Cristiano Ronaldo with three more Ballon d’Or awards. Legends like Marco Van Basten, Johan Cruyff, and Michel Platini are tied for third place with three Ballon d’Or awards each.
During the Ballon d’Or 2023 voting period, Messi led the Argentine national team to victory in the 2022 World Cup. He also won two individual awards at the World Cup, the Golden Ball, and the Silver Boot as the second-highest goal scorer in the tournament in Qatar. In club competitions, the 36-year-old forward won Ligue 1 with PSG and the Leagues Cup with Inter Miami. Meanwhile, Mbappe and the French national team only lost to Argentina in the World Cup final penalty shootout. The 24-year-old forward also received the Golden Boot of the World Cup, the Silver Ball of the World Cup, and Ligue 1.
Despite not participating in the World Cup, Haaland was more successful than any other player at the club level. In the 2022-2023 season, the 23-year-old Norwegian forward scored 52 goals in 53 matches for Manchester City, playing a crucial role in achieving the treble: the Champions League, the Premier League, and the FA Cup. In August, UEFA awarded Haaland the Player of the Season, with Messi finishing second.
