Lionel Messi (36, Argentina), the ‘god of soccer’, became the 8th Ballon d’Or winner in his career. Messi, who achieved the last dream of his football career by winning the World Cup in Qatar last year, was once again awarded the title of best player.
Messi was selected as the winner in the male player category at the 2023 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony held in Paris, France on the 31st (Korean time).
In a vote of 100 reporters around the world, Messi was ranked number one, beating Erling Holland, who led Manchester City (England) to a treble, and Kylian Mbappe (PSG), who led France to runner-up in the World Cup.
This is Messi’s 8th Ballon d’Or trophy, following 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2021. He widened the gap with Cristiano Ronaldo (5 times, Al-Nasr), who won the Ballon d’Or five times, to three.
Messi, who is 36 years old and entering his twilight years this year, seemed unlikely to receive the award as he did not show outstanding performance for his team PSG last year, but he led Argentina to victory in the World Cup, his 5th appearance, and created a dramatic turnaround.
Messi won numerous trophies while playing for Barcelona, but was frustrated because he rarely won a title with his national team. However, after winning the 2021 Copa America and winning the Qatar World Cup last year, his long-cherished wish to play for the national team was fulfilled. Messi scored 7 goals and 3 assists in the Qatar tournament and presented Argentina with the World Cup trophy 36 years after Maradona.토스카지노 주소
Messi, who currently plays for Inter Miami in the US MLS, also set a record of becoming the first player from a non-European team to receive this award. The Ballon d’Or, which has been awarded since 1956, was always won by players from European clubs until last year.
Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), the first Asian defender to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or, ranked 22nd in the voting.
This is tied for second place among Asian players. Son Heung-min ranked 11th last year, the highest ever for an Asian player, and in 2019, he ranked 22nd, the same as Kim Min-jae this year.
