Sports
Lionel Messi wins 8th Ballon d’Or award, Emi Martinez, Bellingham and others shines
Argentine football icon, Lionel Messi, has been confirmed the winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or as he becomes the first player to win the award a record eight times.
Lionel Messi was announced the winner of the Ballon d’Or ahead of Erling Haaland of Manchester City at the 2,500-capacity Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France on Monday, October 30, 2023.
Before this year’s edition of the award, the 36-year-old Argentine football icon had won the award for a record 7 times, two more than his rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Following Messi’s victory in the 2023 edition of the Ballon d’Or, the Argentine football icon has won the award three more times than 38-year-old Ronaldo who currently plays for Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia.
Aside from being the only player to win the Ballon d’Or a record 8 times, Lionel Messi has become the only player to win the Ballon d’Or outside Europe as he is currently playing at Inter Miami in the United States.
Also, Messi has become the first player to win the Ballon d’Or in three different countries, six times in Spain while playing for FC Barcelona, once in France, while playing for Paris Saint Germain, and once in the United States, while playing for Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi won the 2023 edition of the award ahead of Haaland who won the treble with Manchester City last season – Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions – majorly because the football icon helped Argentina to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he won the best player of the tournament.
Lionel Messi and his family at the 2023 Ballon d’Or in Paris, France.
Aside from that, Messi scored 21 goals and provided 20 assists in 41 games in all competitions for PSG last season, helping the club win French Super Cup, and the French Ligue 1 title before joining Inter Miami during the last summer transfer window.
Inter Miami co-owner, David Beckham presented the 2023 Ballon d’Or to Messi as the Argentine icon succeeds Karim Benzema of France and Al-Ittihad who won the 2022 edition of the award.
See winners of other categories of the 2023 Ballon d’Or
Aitana Bonmati won the 2023 Women’s Ballon d’Or
1. Jude Bellingham won the 2023 Kopa Trophy.
2. Vinicius Junior Won the 2023 Socrates Award.
3. Emiliano Martinez won the 2023 Yachine Trophy.
4. FC Barcelona Femeni won the 2023 women’s club of the year.
5. Erling Haaland won the 2023 Gerd Muller Award.
6. Manchester City won the 2023 men’s club of the year.
7. Aitana Bonmati won the 2023 Women’s Ballon d’Or.
Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili made a spectacular debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics, delivering an impressive performance in the women’s 200m event.
After a disappointing setback in the women’s 100m, Ofili showcased her resilience by clinching victory in her heat with a new season’s best time of 22.24 seconds on Sunday, August 4. The victory has qualified her for the 2024 Olympics 200m women’s semi-finals which will take place this evening.
Argentine football icon, Lionel Messi, has stressed that he doesn’t care how much movement he makes in a game as people continue to take note of his walking technique.
In recent times, videos of Lionel Messi practically walking while his team are off the ball have kept many football enthusiasts talking. Many believe that it is a technique to prevent being injured, some say he does that because other players are doing the hard work for him.
But in an interview with Clank Media, Lionel Messi who turned 37-year-old earlier today, June 24, 2024, said not running when he is off the ball has been a part of his game from his days at his boyhood club, Newell, in his native country, Argentina.
“When I was at Newell’s, there were two or three times a week we were sent to run around the grounds. I used to hide behind a tree. Running without a ball was never my thing. Heh”, Lionel Messi said.
“I have always been very self-critical. I am the first to know what I do right and what I do wrong. When I walk, I analyse the opponent’s positioning, how we stand when we don’t have the ball, get away from the marker and be able to initiate a counterattack.
“I don’t pay much attention to GPS, statistics or data. I never cared how much I ran in a match.”
Note that Lionel Messi had used his walking technique while off the ball to win virtually everything in world football including 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League, one FIFA World Cup, and a record 8 Ballon d’Or.
In just two matchdays in the ongoing European Championship (Euro 2024), three countries have secured their place in the tournament’s round of 16.
Interestingly, the Three Lions of England and France, seen as the Super favourites to win the Euro 2024, will have to wait until the last day of the group stage to confirm their place.
Earlier today, June 22, 2024, Portugal’s national team, ably led by five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, defeated Turkey 3-0 to book themselves a place in the round of 16.
Goals from Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and an own goal from Samet Akaydin made all the difference.
Ronaldo provided an assist for Portugal’s third goal, which was his 7th in the history of the tournament, and the all-time highest in the European Championship.
Recall that Portugal defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in their opening game in Group F. Hence, the Portuguese side now have 6 points in two games.
Whether or not they beat Georgia in their last group stage game on Wednesday, June 26, the Portuguese side will play in the round of 16. However, they need to win the game to ensure they finish top of Group F.
Other two teams that have already booked themselves a place in the Euro 2024 round of 16 with a game in hand are the hosts, Germany, and Spain.
Germany are topping Group A with 6 points in 2 games, while Spain are topping Group B with 6 points in two games.
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