Lionel Messi has indeed won the 2023 Ballon d’Or, securing the prestigious award over other top contenders, including Erling Haaland from Manchester City. Messi’s exceptional year in 2022, which featured a World Cup victory with Argentina, played a pivotal role in securing this achievement.
Lionel Messi’s victory in the 2023 Ballon d’Or has certainly stirred up the Messi-Ronaldo debate once again. Fans have been showing their support for Messi, as evidenced by them chanting his name at a King’s Cup match.
Ronaldo’s night in the King Cup was marred by “Messi” chants
The enduring debate over who is the better footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, continues to captivate fans around the world. In a recent event, fans in the United Arab Emirates seemed to express a unanimous opinion, but the Ronaldo vs. Messi debate remains a subjective matter that often sparks passionate discussions and varied perspectives among football enthusiasts.
During a match involving Al Jazira, some fans in the stands started chanting Lionel Messi’s name, even though Cristiano Ronaldo was on the field. In response, Ronaldo, known for his showmanship, performed a modified version of his iconic celebration, seemingly directed at the fans who were chanting Messi’s name. This playful interaction added a unique and memorable moment to the match.
Cristiano Ronaldo responded by clenching his fists, tensing his muscles, and posing for a brief moment before resuming play, showing his competitive spirit and sense of humor in response to the chanting fans.
Messi’s revelation on the ninth Ballon d’Or
Lionel Messi claimed the 2023 Ballon d’Or in Paris at Théâtre du Châtelet, marking his eighth victory in the award, extending his lead over Cristiano Ronaldo and solidifying his status as one of the greatest footballers in history.
Messi’s remarkable achievement puts him three Ballon d’Or wins ahead of his closest competitor, Cristiano Ronaldo, and it appears unlikely that the emerging generation, which includes talents like Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, will match the 36-year-old’s record-breaking total.
French newspaper L’Équipe, affiliated with the same media group as the organizers of the Ballon d’Or, France Football, has shared a preview of an upcoming interview with Lionel Messi.
In this interview, the former Barcelona superstar delves into his thoughts on the possibility of winning the prestigious award again in the future. The full interview is scheduled for publication on Saturday.
“I think it’s partly down to my mentality and my desire to want to improve every single day and always to try to achieve more. I always said that I was a person who liked winning; I didn’t like losing; I always tried to compete and give my all, in addition to preparing well. I enjoy soccer, it’s what I like, and it’s what I dreamed about since I was little. I gave everything to have the career I had.”
He continued, “Yes, it was very special. You always get a special kind of joy from winning an award for the first time. I remember the first one, which was different from everything else because it was not at a gala like the one they have now but on a television program. I went to Paris with my brothers, and it was on some kind of program. There weren’t as many players as there were later.”
Speaking further and concluding with 2024 Ballon d’Or prospects and whether he could win a ninth, Messi said;
“I think we’ve seen for years there are several players who could win it. Like Haaland, Mbappé and Vinicius. There are many young players who are going to contend for the next Ballon d’Or. Lamine Yamal, who is very young and has already shown he is an important player for Barcelona, will probably fight for it soon. And more players will enter the conversation. There are always good players. I think the next little while is going to be one to look forward to watching.”
