Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or for the eighth time. While the
footballing world is divided on this, the player had plenty to back his claim to the goldware.
Messi's performance at the 2022 Qatar World Cup was dubbed "godlike" by pundits. He
captained Argentina to the most significant prize football offers, scoring seven goals and being
named the tournament's best player. As Peter Drury said, “You cannot ignore the supposition
that Messi has rendered himself the greatest of all time." With his friends, family, rivals, and a
certain American YouTuber watching, Leo lifted his trophy with his signature smile of humility
that we have indisputably gotten used to through the years.
In his speech, the magician from Rosario expressed his gratitude to his teammates, stating,
"[t]his is a gift to the whole Argentina team for what we achieved. Becoming world champions
was the title we were missing. I want to thank everyone who helped make Argentina the world
champion team." La Pulga dedicated his Ballon d'Or trophy to the late Argentine football legend
Diego Maradona. Maradona, who passed away in 2020, would have celebrated his 63rd
birthday with Messi's achievement. With deep reverence, Messi declared, "Happy birthday
Diego. This is for you, too."
While Messi was voted the undisputed winner, the competition was fierce, with several players
staking their claim to the coveted award. Erling Haaland, the Norwegian forward, secured the
second position thanks to his surreal achievements in winning the UEFA Champions League,
Premier League, and FA Cup with Manchester City, for whom he scored goals for fun. Haaland's
almost terrifying performances and goal-scoring prowess made him a formidable opponent on
the field, but perhaps the absence of his influence in big matches let the voters down. Trailing
closely behind Haaland was Kylian Mbappe, who at the World Cup final showed the world why
he is dubbed the heir to Messi and Ronaldos’ throne with an emphatic hattrick, claiming the third
spot. Mbappe, the Golden Boot winner at the Qatar World Cup, claimed only the Ligue 1 title
throughout the season.
With Messi and Ronaldo out of European football, this ceremony signaled the end of an era—an
era of magnificence, an era of two legends, an era of one goat.
Picture Credits: L'Equipe, YouTube livestream
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