Lionel Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or on Monday in Paris at the Theatre du Chatelet. The Argentine’s 2022 FIFA World Cup victory made him the odds-on favorite, and eventually, the award went to him.
Behind Messi were Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappé, who came in second and third place, respectively.
Messi spoke after winning the honor and noted that Haaland and Mbappé’s time will come when they’re battling for the Ballon d’Or.
“They are two extraordinary players,” Messi said. “I shared two years in the same club (at PSG) with Kylian Mbappé. I know his talent, his immense talent.
“He is a player still very young. Both are still young. In the future, we will find them again. Haaland also has an extraordinary career. I am convinced that they will also be winners of the Ballon d’Or very soon.”
Leo Messi on Mbappé and Haaland: “They are two extraordinary players. I shared two years in the same club (at PSG) with Kylian Mbappé. I know his talent, his immense talent.”
“He is a player still very young. Both are still young. In the future, we will find them again. Haaland… pic.twitter.com/7xSEH31jig
— PSG Report (@PSG_Report) October 30, 2023
This ceremony was also the end of an era. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo won’t dominate the award beginning in 2024. Now it will be up to the Norwegian and Frenchmen to carry that torch and see if either can run off winning the award at a frequent pace.
With the club season and international competitions next summer, the opportunity is there for the PSG winger to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or if he has the trophies to add to his candidacy.
