October 17, (THEWILL) – Lionel Messi is once again the centre of attention in the footballing world, as rumours swirl that the Argentine superstar has secured a record-breaking eighth Ballon d’Or. Reports monitored by THEWILL in Spain claim that Messi has already been notified of his victory, however, France Football, who hand out the prestigious prize, are yet to officially confirm the winner.
The annual ceremony to crown the player of the year will take place on October 30 in Paris. Messi is the overwhelming favourite after playing a pivotal role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph. Despite underwhelming club form with PSG, Messi’s World Cup heroics have cemented his status as the greatest of all time in the eyes of many fans and pundits.
Messi faces stiff competition from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. The Norwegian goal machine plundered defences to notch over 50 goals last season as City completed a domestic and European treble. Meanwhile, Messi’s former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe also remains in contention after topping the scoring charts at the World Cup.
However, it would be a monumental shock if anyone else hears their name called on Monday night. Messi is poised for his 8th win to further widen the win gap with Cristiano Ronaldo on five Ballon d’Or wins, pulling further clear of Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco Van Basten, who have three each.
Messi’s son Thiago, who is keeping count his illustrious father’s Ballon d’Or numbers, may need to revise his count once again if his father does indeed emerge victorious in Paris as the older Messi’s insatiable Ballon d’Or obsession shows no signs of subsiding.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
