October 30, (THEWILL) – Football legend, Lionel Messi, has been awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or for a record-breaking eighth time. The Argentinian forward added to his astonishing list of honours after being crowned the world’s best player by France Football magazine.
The 35-year-old enjoyed a stellar year in 2022, most notably captaining his country to World Cup glory in December. Messi was instrumental throughout Argentina’s campaign in Qatar, scoring 7 goals including strikes in the semi-final and final. At club level, Messi helped Paris St Germain reclaim the French league title before moving to the MLS with Inter Miami this summer.
Receiving the award in Paris on Monday night, an emotional Messi said it was a “huge honour” to win the Ballon d’Or again. He dedicated the accolade to his Argentina teammates, describing lifting the World Cup as a “dream come true”.
Messi now moves further ahead in the history books, with the success of his incredible eighth Ballon d’Or win. The forward has enjoyed a glittering career at the pinnacle of the sport for over 15 years to underscore the wildly impressive longevity of his talent.
The victory caps off a memorable year for the former Barcelona star after finally winning that elusive international trophy with Argentina. Messi continues to shine as he enters the twilight years of his illustrious career.
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.
