2023-10-31 03:10:23
Eighth and final act. Jazz, musicals, classical concerts and even César ceremonies, the Châtelet theater has seen a whole bunch of performances. But on stage, it is a unique piece, a possible last of another genre which was performed this Monday with spicy ingredients to give this evening a flavor that it does not always have.
In a secret that hadn’t been one for weeks, Lionel Messi came to receive his eighth and most certainly last France Football Ballon d’Or in Paris, a city of which he does not have many memories and in which, if the We still believe his recent statements, he was not happy. All under the eyes of Kylian Mbappé, his former partner at PSG, with whom he offered the world one of the most epic clashes in the history of this sport on December 18 during the final of the World Cup between Argentina and France.
Messi did not display indescribable enthusiasm
Like a sort of snub in front of an audience of football stars, from Erling Haaland to Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, before returning to Miami, far from the European competitions which generally host the winners of this prize. This unique performance started at 8:17 p.m., when the bells of the Théâtre du Châtelet rang to remind the spectators already present in the room that the show was about to begin.
At that moment, David Beckham had the photographers screaming and paved the way for Lionel Messi who arrived two minutes later. Accompanied by his wife Antonella Roccuzzo and their three children, the Argentinian played sobriety in a black tuxedo, bow tie and white shirt. Far from his polka dot outfit from 2013 or his red suit worn in 2014.
At 8:23 p.m., it was Kylian Mbappé’s turn to get out of his van and arrive last, accompanied by Olivier Gagne, the deputy sports director of PSG. Despite signing a few autographs for the fans present, the Parisian star had left his smile behind and had not found it again a little less than thirty minutes later when he was called on stage as a nominee and received an ovation that none of the other players present received.
Mbappé, last to arrive and first to leave
To his right, Lionel Messi, who also did not display indescribable enthusiasm, sat next to his family. As if he had come discreetly. At 10:30 p.m., in rather stunning neutrality, Lionel Messi was declared the winner of the Ballon d’Or for the eighth time and went on stage to receive the award from David Beckham, the former PSG and Manchester United player and great architect. of his arrival in MLS, of which he is president and co-owner. As if this ceremony had been tailor-made for him.
“Tonight, I’m enjoying it, it’s a pleasure that will never leave me. And I hope to be able to continue this for several years. Becoming world champion is the title that we were missing and I would like to thank everyone who made that possible,” affirmed the now eight-time winner, who still let an ounce of emotion shine through as if he knew that this appearance with this trophy was his last.
In passing, he quickly congratulated Kylian Mbappé, his former partner, but forgot (deliberately) Paris Saint-Germain, speaking only of FC Barcelona. Standing but with a closed face, the Frenchman, third in the ranking, applauded but immediately left the scene once the ceremony was over. Since the beginning of the evening, he really didn’t seem like he wanted to be there. He was the last to arrive and the first to leave. As a meeting for the next edition?
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