Lionel Messi is once again the best player on the planet after winning the Ballon D’Or for a record eighth time.
The great and good of world football all assembled at the Theatre de Catelet in Paris on Monday night, alongside stars of other sports including tennis great Novak Djokovic who presented the Ballon D’Or Feminin.
It was the 67th annual ceremony, presented by France Football magazine, but only the second one awarded for performances in a season rather than a calendar year. So Messi was the 2022/23 winner in recognition of his feats in domestic football in Ligue 1 and in international football with Argentina. Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was the chief host of the awards, with David Beckham presenting the biggest prize and it was no surprise when he called out the name of Messi.
Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar scoring twice and once again in the penalty shootout as La Albiceleste beat France to win the global crown. It was Argentina’s first World Cup win in 36 years and the script was written for Messi to play the leading role. He was the player of the tournament in a season in which he also broke records in domestic football. His goal for Paris Saint-Germain against Nice in April made him the highest goal scorer in European football history with 702 goals.
Messi finished the Ligue 1 season as the highest assist maker with 16 before heading to the USA to star for Inter Miami. His new club won the Leagues Cup, the first trophy in its history, and Messi scored nine goals in his first six games for the ambitious MLS club.
Five times winner Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t receive a nomination for the first time in two decades and now Messi has pulled three clear of his nemesis!
The genius of modern day football saw off the challenge of his former team-mate Kylian Mbappe and Manchester City’s scoring sensation Erling Braut Haaland. Mbappe dominated the Ligue 2023 news again over the summer with the will he/won’t he saga of a possible move to Real Madrid; but he was pipped by his former PSG team-mate for this big prize, and that won’t have pleased the France star after Les Bleus’ World Cup disappointment.
Norwegian goal machine Erling Braut Haaland scored 56 goals in the 2022/23 season and, in any other year he might have won the big prize. He was one of seven Manchester City players on the list and 12 from the English top flight. The Sky Blues won the treble last season and the Premier League 2023 betting odds here at SBOTOP say they are the team to beat in their domestic league. And Pep Guardiola’s team was, not surprisingly, named the best club.
Meanwhile Haaland picked up the Gerd Muller Trophy for the best striker, scoring 36 goals in his first Premier League campaign.
Feminin prize goes to Bonmati
The women’s prize for the best player of 2022/23 in their sport was deservedly picked up by World Cup winner Aitana Bonmati who starred for Spain throughout the competition. The Ballon D’Or Feminin had been won by Alexia Putellas over the past two years but now it’s the turn of her international and club team-mate Bonmati. She won the Player of the Tournament at the Women’s World Cup, scoring three goals along the way, and Bonmati was also awarded the Women’s Champions League best player after she helped Barcelona to win the European crown. At 25 years of age, the all action midfielder already has 53 goals in 159 games for Barcelona and 21 goals in 57 internationals and she has her best years to come. I suspect this won’t be the last Ballon D’Or Feminin for Bonmati.
The Kopa Trophy for the best young player went to Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham who had a brilliant 2022/23 for both club and country. He has become a shoe-in for the England team with his all action and mature performances and his form for Borussia Dortmund earned him a big money move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Bellingham, who scored ten goals in his first ten games for Los Blancos also scored both his club’s goals in the El Clasico on Saturday as Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1. Wearing the number five shirt made famous by Zinedine Zidane he’s already a favourite with Real Madrid fans and is a decent bet for the big prize next year.
The Yachin Trophy for the best goalkeeper went to Aston Villa and Argentina stopper Emiliano Martinez, in recognition of his brilliant performance in Qatar where he helped his team win the penalty shootout with a combination of clever psychology and technical excellence.
The Ballon D’Or recognises Argentina and the nation’s favourite sons.
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