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For Messi, this prestigious trophy primarily celebrates his awe-inspiring performances at the previous year’s World Cup held in Qatar. During the tournament, he single-handedly propelled Argentina to victory, netting seven goals and earning the title of the tournament’s standout player.
This crowning achievement stands as a pinnacle in his illustrious career, triumphing over stiff competition, most notably from Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, as he graciously accepted the award at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris.
This return to the French capital marked a poignant moment for Messi, following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain in June and his subsequent transition to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
“This is a gift to the whole Argentina team for what we achieved,” said Messi on stage after receiving his award from David Beckham, the co-owner of Inter Miami.
Messi paid a heartfelt tribute by dedicating the trophy to the memory of the late Argentine legend, Diego Maradona, whose 63rd birthday would have fallen on that very Monday.
“Happy birthday Diego. This is for you too,” he said.
Messi benefited from a recent rule change, with the award now considering a player’s performance over the past season rather than the entire calendar year.
His victory came despite a less than stellar final season at PSG, even though he helped secure a Ligue 1 title. Mbappe shone as the standout player on the team, netting 41 goals, and also claimed the World Cup’s top scorer title with eight goals, including a memorable hat-trick in the final, where France fell to Argentina in a penalty shootout.
Nevertheless, Mbappe fell just short in the Ballon d’Or race, finishing in third place. Norwegian striker Haaland took the second spot after an impressive season, scoring 52 goals in 53 matches for Manchester City, a team that clinched the English Premier League, FA Cup and the Champions League treble.
At 36 years old, Messi, who first won the Ballon d’Or in 2009, now boasts a total of eight titles, placing him three ahead of his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, the second most decorated player in the award’s history.
The future holds uncertainty regarding Messi’s potential future nominations for the award, which is determined by a single journalist from each of the top 100 nations in the FIFA ranking.
“I am not thinking about the long-term future. I am just enjoying the day to day at the moment,” he said.
Messi may face a daunting challenge in fending off the emerging generation of football superstars, with Mbappe, Haaland and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham leading the way. However, his exceptional World Cup performances this time around made his victory appear almost inevitable.
In the realm of women’s football, the outcome seemed even more decisive, as Bonmati received her well-deserved recognition. She played a pivotal role in Spain’s triumph at the World Cup held in Australia in August.
The 25-year-old midfielder earned the distinction of being named the World Cup’s best player as the Spanish team surmounted various off-field challenges, including protests against their national federation and coach Jorge Vilda, to claim the championship.
Bonmati also shone brightly as Barcelona clinched the Champions League title the previous season and recently received the honour of being named the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year.
“It is difficult to improve on this. It has been a unique year,” she told various media including AFP.
“If anyone said to me when I was little that I would play at the Camp Nou, win the World Cup, two Champions Leagues, a Ballon d’Or, a UEFA award, these are extraordinary things.”
Among the 30 nominees, four members of the triumphant Spanish team were recognized. This group included Alba Redondo, Salma Paralluelo and full-back Olga Carmona, who scored the decisive goal in the final, all of whom made the shortlist.
Last year’s Ballon d’Or title-holder, Alexia Putellas, who was also part of the Spanish side, did not receive a nomination due to her extended absence from most of the previous season owing to a knee injury.
In the women’s category, Australia’s Sam Kerr claimed second place, with Paralluelo securing the third spot.
Alexia Putellas had clinched the Ballon d’Or in the two preceding seasons. The inaugural award went to Norway’s Ada Hegerberg in 2018, and USA star Megan Rapinoe followed suit a year later.
Jude Bellingham secured the Kopa Trophy, honoring the best player aged under 21 for the previous season. The 20-year-old has made an impressive start to his career with Madrid, netting 13 goals in 13 games. However, the award recognized his performances during his final season with Borussia Dortmund.
Bellingham’s teammate at Madrid, the Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior, was bestowed with the Socrates prize in recognition of his off-field contributions.
In the realm of goalkeeping, Messi’s compatriot, Emiliano Martinez, received the Yashin Trophy, acknowledging him as the best goalkeeper of the season.
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