Inter Miami's Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or for an astonishing eighth time, fending off competition from Manchester City star Erling Haaland.
-based player to claim the coveted prize, although the triumph comes largely on the back of his exploits with his country in Qatar. Former Manchester United player and Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham handed his prize-signing Messi the award in Paris.Haaland, who scored 52 goals last season as City won the Treble in 2022-23, finished second in the voting and won the Gerd Muller Trophy given to the best striker of the year.
In other awards handed out on Monday, Messi's Argentina teammate Emiliano Martinez won the Yachine Trophy for best goalkeeper and England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was handed the Kopa Trophy as the world's top player under the age of 21. Even prior to Monday's ceremony in Paris, no player had won the Ballon d'Or more times than Messi, who first won it in 2009 and then again in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.Since moving to the U.S., he has scored 11 goals in 14 games for Miami, helping the franchise win its first-ever piece of silverware, the Leagues Cup.
However, he missed several matches through injury at the end of the regular MLS season as Gerardo"Tata" Martino's side came up short in their late push for a playoff spot.It is Messi's performances at the World Cup at the end of 2022 which have earned him an eighth Ballon d'Or, though, as Argentina ended a 36-year wait to be crowned world champions for the third time.
Messi, as captain, was instrumental to Argentina's success in Qatar, scoring seven goals and assisting three more as he was named as the Player of the Tournament.
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