Lionel Messi has won his eighth Ballon d'Or title in Paris after being awarded the trophy on Monday ahead of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. The Argentina international has been crowned champion for the first time since 2021 and his latest success now moves him three clear of Cristiano Ronaldo's total of five.
Messi led Argentina to the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has since joined Major League Soccer side Inter Miami while Manchester City's Haaland finished second after a prolific role in last season's UEFA Champions League success and Paris Saint-Germain's Mbappe was a beaten World Cup finalist with France. City pair Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri completed the men's top five.
"Thank you to everyone who voted for me and to everyone who enabled me to win this award," said Messi upon accepting his eighth Ballon d'Or. "To my international teammates, the coach and the staff of the Argentina team. I would like to congratulate Erling and Kylian as well as everyone else. It was a spectacular year. It is a pleasure and one that will never leave me -- I hope to enjoy it for many more years.
"A special thanks to those who have followed me since the start. The World Cup was the one that was missing. I thank my family and wife who has been with me since the start of my career and allowed me to achieve my dreams. Without her, I would not have succeeded for so long. I will not play next week and will instead enjoy some vacation. I am very happy to be with Inter Miami and for now, I will celebrate with my family and Argentina teammates."
Elsewhere, Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham won the Kopa Trophy while teammate Vini Jr took the Socrates Award and Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez received the Yashin award. Haaland walked away with the Gerd Muller award while City defended their Men's Club of the Year title.
Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati won the women's Ballon d'Or meaning a third consecutive success for Barca after Alexia Putellas' double. The Spaniard came in ahead of Chelsea's Sam Kerr and Barca teammate Salma Paralleulo while Barcelona Femeni were named Club of the Year. Barca's Fridolina Rolfo and Manchester United's Mary Earps completed the women's top five.
Men's Ballon d'Or: Inter Miami's Lionel Messi
Men's winner:
1. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami/Argentina)
2. Erling Haaland (Man City/Norway)
3. Kylian Mbappe (PSG/France)
4. Kevin De Bruyne (Man City/Belgium)
5. Rodri (Man City/Spain)
Women's Ballon d'Or: Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati
Women's top 5:
1. Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona/Spain)
2. Sam Kerr (Chelsea/Australia)
3. Salma Paralleulo (Barcelona/Spain)
4. Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona/Sweden)
5. Mary Earps (Man United/England)
- 2023 Kopa Trophy: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England)
- 2023 Socrates Award: Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid/Brazil)
- 2023 Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona Femeni
- 2023 Yashin award: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa/Argentina)
- 2023 Gerd Muller award: Erling Haaland (Man City/Norway)
- 2023 Men's Club of the Year: Manchester City
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