Lionel Messi wins the Ballon d’Or 2023

Aitana Bonmatí was the winner of the women’s Ballon d’Or

PARIS, FRANCE.- Lionel Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or, which he received this Monday at the gala organized by France Football magazine.

Messi beat Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, stars of the season in European soccer, and in the case of Haaland, champion of the Champions League with Manchester City.

City was precisely awarded as the team of the year in world soccer, while Dibu Martínez received recognition as the best athlete.

Messi, currently a player for Inter Miami, had already won the award in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2021.

The award has a special meaning, not only because Messi no longer plays in European football and did not manage to shine as he expected with PSG, but also because it is given after finally winning the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

In the women’s branch, the winner was Aitana Bonmatí, who has shone with Barcelona and was recently crowned champion with the Spanish National Team in the Women’s World Cup.

Great world soccer stars and top-level coaches on the planet were at the gala.

Erling Haaland received the Gerd Muller award as the best scorer in world football, while Barcelona was named the best women’s football club in 2023.

Vinicius Jr. received the Socrates award and Jude Bellingham the Kopa.