Lionel Messi is one of the best soccer superstars, if not the best. The Argentine has been performing brilliantly on the pitch for more than a decade, winning all the trophies he can. To crown himself the best, he has received the best individual awards, including the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.
In fact, he has won seven of them already, the highest by a single player, and his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo is the nearest with five. And it looks like another one is going to be added to his cabinet very soon.
Lionel Messi Ballon d’Or win speculation gathers steam
After winning the World Cup with Argentina in 2022, where he was the best player, Lionel Messi was in pole position to win another Ballon d’Or. However, another competitor, Erling Haaland, arrived when he led Manchester City to a historic treble win and won the European Golden Shoe.
However, recent news on social media went viral when a close family friend of Messi revealed that the Argentine has already been informed by the Ballon d’Or authorities that he is the winner.
(🌕) “On Messi’s schedule there’s 30th October, Paris, Ballon d’Or gala and the expectation is very clear for Leo Messi. We’ll see what’s going to happen.. Messi is ready for that gala and important opportunity.” @FabrizioRomano 👀✨🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/CJTqGdv0EO
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) October 11, 2023
And now renowned soccer journalist Fabrizio Romano has also seemingly confirmed the same news. He is known for providing accurate and reliable news almost always. The Italian journalist recently updated on social media the news that Messi will win the award on 30 October during a gala in Paris. Messi is reportedly ready to attend the ceremony, having been informed of the win previously.
“On Messi’s schedule there’s 30th October, Paris, Ballon d’Or gala and the expectation is very clear for Leo Messi. We’ll see what’s going to happen. Messi is ready for that gala and important opportunity.”
Many other reliable news reports are also suggesting the same, in what is set to be a historic moment in soccer. Fans have already gotten excited, and social media is buzzing with reposts of the news.
Lionel Messi and his Ballon d’Or wins by years
Lionel Messi is already the best winner in the award’s history, which is given out by prestigious soccer magazine France Football based on votes from journalists around the world.
Messi first won the prestigious award in 2009, when he was only 22, when he led Barcelona to a Champions League triumph. He will go on to win the next three years as well, being the only player to win it four consecutive times. In 2010, he was given the award over club teammates Xavi and Andres Iniesta for yet another brilliant season for Barcelona.
In 2011, another Champions League title with Barcelona sealed Ballon d’Or number three for him. In 2012, Messi went on a rampage, scoring 91 goals that year, a record for most goals in a year still unsurpassed. Again, the Argentine was given the award for another brilliant year.
He then fell short in both 2013 and 2014, with rival Cristiano Ronaldo claiming them. But in 2015, with another Champions League for Barcelona, the award returned to him for a fifth time. Four years passed before he won another, with Ronaldo claiming two of them and Luka Modric claiming a single one.
2019 saw him go through Champions League and Copa America heartbreaks, but individually, the season was one of his best. This led to him winning six Ballon d’Ors, making him the player with the most wins in the award’s history. Two years later, a Copa America win with Argentina saw him win a seventh Ballon d’Or, adding to that record.
Lionel Messi will now prepare for the award ceremony on October 30 in Paris, where he could be the first player playing outside of Europe to win the award.
Who will take home the Ballon d’Or award in 2023? Make sure to tell us your predictions in the comments.
