Fawaz Adebisi
The Catalan newspaper Sport has revealed that Lionel Messi has been awarded his 8th Ballon d’Or, the most prestigious individual prize in football.
According to the report, Messi has already been informed of his achievement before the official announcement in Paris on October 30.
The 36-year-old Argentine legend reached the peak of his brilliant career when he captained his country to their first World Cup title in Qatar last year, scoring the winning goal in the final against Brazil.
After leaving Paris Saint-Germain, where he played for one season alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, Messi joined Inter Miami in July and became an instant sensation in the MLS, scoring 25 goals in 20 games.
Messi’s historic win will make him the first player to win the Ballon d’Or while playing outside Europe and extend his lead over his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won five times.
Messi faced stiff competition from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and his former PSG teammate Mbappe, who both had impressive seasons, but his World Cup heroics gave him the edge.
Sport also reported that Aitana Bonmati, the Barcelona midfielder, will receive the women’s award at the Chatelet Theater, after she helped Spain win their first Women’s World Cup by beating England in a dramatic final in August.