2023-10-30 23:58:51
At the twilight of a prodigious career, Lionel Messi took the spotlight for the eighth time during the Ballon d’Or ceremony, Monday October 30 at the Châtelet theater in Paris, where the Spaniard Aitana Bonmati entered the pantheon soccer.
And in the end, it’s Messi who wins: crowned world champion for the first time at the end of 2022 in Qatar, author of seven goals during the tournament, including a double in the final, the 36-year-old Argentinian was ahead of podium the Norwegian Erling Haaland and the Frenchman Kylian Mbappé.
A breathtaking track record
After 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019 with Barça and 2021 already in the colors of PSG, Messi adds one more line to a breathtaking track record that he completed in 2021 and 2022 with a first Copa America and therefore the global Grail.
“It’s a gift to the entire Argentina team for what we have accomplished”declared Messi on stage after receiving his award from David Beckham, the co-owner of Inter Miami, his new club.
He dedicated his trophy to Argentinian legend Diego Maradona, who would have celebrated his 63rd birthday on Monday: “Happy birthday Diego. It’s for you too ».
Two young dolphins
His young runners-up, aged 23 and 24, nevertheless had arguments. Scoring 52 goals in 53 games in his first year in England, Haaland gave Manchester City his first Champions League, but also the Premier League and the FA Cup to complete a sparkling treble.
Vice-world champion with France, Mbappé finished top scorer in the competition (8), one unit ahead of Messi, including a classy hat-trick in the final. Champions of France with PSG, Mbappé like Messi, however, failed in the Champions League.
But it was the Dantesque final of the World Cup, on December 18 at the Lusail stadium, and its outcome (3-3, 4-2 on the tabs) which made the difference for the “for money”who improves his record with now three more Ballon d’Ors than Cristiano Ronaldo (5).
Emiliano Martinez best goalkeeper
The outcome of the final and therefore of this Ballon d’Or could have been different without Emiliano Martinez, author of a decisive save against Frenchman Randal Kolo Muani and elected best goalkeeper of the season on Monday (Yachine Trophy). Author of a clownish celebration after the world title, he was booed by part of the theater.
Since 2008 (first trophy for Ronaldo) and 2009 (first for Messi), the two ogres of world football have cannibalized the France Football award: only Luka Modric in 2018 and Benzema last year collected the crumbs.
The future will tell if this umpteenth individual reward is the last for the one who now plays in MLS in Miami, in a much less competitive championship.
Still, Rosario’s child is still hungry: Messi (178 caps, 106 goals) plans to participate in the Copa America-2024. His swan song. Unless he pushes until the 2026 World Cup…
The succession is assured
If football gradually sees the end of the Messi-Ronaldo era, the succession is assured with Haaland and Mbappé, the two top scorers of the season with 56 and 54 goals respectively for club and selection.
Paying tribute to the glories of the past Pelé, Luis Suarez and Bobby Charlton, who passed away in recent months, the ceremony also profiled the future through the Englishman Jude Bellingham, 20 years old, elected best young person of the year (Kopa Trophy) two days after his double with Real Madrid, his new club, during the Clasico in Barcelona (2-1).
Aitana Bonmati succeeds Alexia Putellas
Among the women, the Spaniard Aitana Bonmati was crowned for the first time, at the age of 25, succeeding the double winner and teammate in the selection and at Barça Alexia Putellas.
Further proof of the current domination of Spain, victorious in the 2023 World Cup, and the Catalan club, which won the 2023 and 2021 Champions League. The midfielder was voted best player in both competitions.
” It is hard to do better. It’s a unique year”she said. “If someone had told me when I was little that I would play at Camp Nou, that I would win the World Cup, two Champions Leagues, a Ballon d’Or, a UEFA award, those are extraordinary things »she added.
Dubbed by Pep Guardiola who nicknamed her “the Iniesta of women’s football”, the Catalan has also won the last four Spanish championships. The one who grew up admiring the great Barça and the great Spain of the turn of the 2010s made her dream a reality.
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