Messi's Ballon d'Or crowning achievement: He's going for his eighth award
31 October, 2023
The Argentinian could receive yet another award for his World Cup, in a season in which Haaland was also a marvellous performer
The Ballon d'Or 2023 gala is here. Since yesterday, the area around the Theatre du Chatelet, very close to the legendary Notre Dame and the Hotel de Ville in Paris, has been preparing to welcome the great stars of football, the ones who make millions of fans dream.
From 19:00 CET onwards, the red carpet, which yesterday was already being sheltered from the rain that was falling in Paris, will prepare its shine for Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham, Aitana Bonmati and more to walk.
Messi aiming for number eight
It could be another special year for Messi with an award that he has dominated since 2009, as he has lifted it in these years: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.
And all of them, without any major contestation, except for 2021, in which he shared merits with Robert Lewandowski. An eighth Ballon d'Or that would be far ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo's five (2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017). Behind are the three of Michel Platini, Marco van Basten and Johan Cruyff. Messi would again be the 'king of Paris' - last year he was not even among the nominees - after being the 'king of Qatar' in December 2022.
The Ballon d'Or rewards the 2022-23 season and not even Erling Haaland's triple with Manchester City would hold sway with the voting journalists in judging who should be this year's winner.
Haaland won the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup, and scored 52 goals in 53 total games for City.
Messi's dominance
Messi dominated the competition that everyone wants to dominate in history: a World Cup, which has more power than any other title, especially if you do it while being the tournament's best player and Silver Shoe (seven goals and three assists in seven games) behind Kylian Mbappe. Messi scored in the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and in that epic final against France.
MARCA asked the Argentine in August this year about the possibility of receiving this eighth Ballon d'Or and this was his response in his first appearance as an Inter Miami player: "I think I've said it many times during my career. The Ballon d'Or is a very important award because of what it means. For its recognition, it is one of the most beautiful awards in the world on an individual level. But I never gave importance, in inverted commas, to individual awards. The most important thing was the collective awards. I was lucky enough to win everything in my career, and the World Cup was what I was missing. That's why now, after Qatar, I'm thinking much less about that prize. Now I'm enjoying my moment. I'm not thinking about the Ballon d'Or. If it comes, good; and if not, I'm satisfied that I have achieved my objectives and... now I have others with this club. This is what we came here for, to help the club win titles and on a personal level I'm also thinking about that".
So, the World Cup in Qatar has already satisfied the number 10 with titles... but if this eighth Ballon d'Or arrives, it will be welcome.
The organisers were expecting Messi to arrive in Paris in the early hours of this morning, either on a scheduled flight from Miami or by private plane with his closest circle.
Messi will be the centre of attention, as he almost always is, although on other occasions he has shared the spotlight with stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo.
Today he will shine alongside Jude Bellingham (Kopa Trophy) and Aitana Bonmati (Women's Ballon d'Or), youngsters who look up to the Argentinian star as a reference to be admired, beyond colours.
In Messi's entourage, each Ballon d'Or is celebrated with more enthusiasm than the previous one, as it is known that in the professional world, winning after winning is the most complicated thing to do.
That is why this eighth Ballon d'Or would be received with more enthusiasm by Messi, despite the words he told us back in August.
Source: www.marca.com