Messi is also the only player to have won this prestigious title with three different clubs. However, there is a less-known record that truly honors Messi’s value. That is, the Argentine superstar became the player with the longest gap (14 years) between two Ballon d’Or wins.
8 Golden Balls in 14 years, spanning 3 decades, world football, even at the club level, has probably rarely witnessed such a continuous and enduring domination. Not to mention the owner of that record series is a player who, although praised as a genius, has encountered all kinds of worldly difficulties. There were times when he fell into the depths of despair, but still shook off the mud and rose up to rise.
During the 2023 Ballon d’Or awards night, there were regrets for Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
Haaland had an extraordinary season with Man City when he won the treble (Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup). The Norwegian striker scored 52 goals in 53 matches, winning the title of top scorer in the Premier League and Champions League. Kylian Mbappe also broke many milestones in Ligue 1. With 29 goals, the French striker won the title of top scorer in the Paris Saint-Germain shirt. At the 2022 World Cup, Mbappe was also the player with the most goals in the tournament (8 goals), scoring a hat-trick in the final between France and Argentina.
Both are also predicted to create a new era of competition after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, when they fully converge the qualities: natural talent, professionalism, playing for strong teams, and starting to show stability and durability. These are factors that those who were predicted to “succeed” Ronaldo and Messi such as Neymar, Gareth Bale or Eden Hazard have never fully converged.
Messi’s glory day (left cover)
AFP
However, although the future of Haaland and Mbappe racing each other is very close, it is still a story of the future. On the award night at the Chatelet Theater (Paris, France), Messi’s scepter still stood there, calm and persistent. Why can Messi surpass Haaland, Mbappe, Kevin de Bruyne or Rodri (3 of these 4 players won the treble with Man City) to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or?
First of all, in a season with the World Cup, it is relatively understandable that the achievements in this tournament (held every 4 years) are prioritized over the Champions League (held annually). In the top 5 of the Golden Ball, Haaland did not attend the World Cup, De Bruyne and the Belgian team were eliminated in the group stage due to internal conflicts, and Rodri and the Spanish team were eliminated by Morocco in the round of 16.
Only Messi and Mbappe created an impressive two-horse race in Qatar when they both appeared in the final. The Argentine superstar shone with a double against France. Mbappe was even more impressive, scoring a hat-trick against Argentina. Many people said that if Emiliano Martinez had not saved Kolo Muani’s shot, France would have won the World Cup. And the Golden Ball at the Chalete Theater must be awarded to Mbappe.
The moment goalkeeper Martinez stretched to block Muani’s shot was shown over and over again during the Ballon d’Or ceremony as a mockery of France Football (a French newspaper) for the French themselves. However, it seems that the French themselves understand that with just one “if”, one can put Paris in a bottle. Messi’s greatness will not be determined and judged by just one moment, but needs knots to become complete. That is the knot that Mbappe is missing.
As for Haaland, the title of “Best Goalscorer of the Year” (Gerd Muller) is not purely a consolation prize, but actually reflects the Norwegian striker’s 2022-2023 season. No one is better than Haaland at scoring goals, with 52 goals in 53 matches (an average of nearly 1 goal/match). But football is not just about scoring, and the owner of the Golden Ball needs more than that. Coach Pep Guardiola commented: “Haaland needs the support of all his teammates, while Messi can do it all by himself.”
Messi’s professional influence on Argentina’s championship journey is much greater than just 7 goals. The 36-year-old conductor is the owner of “crazy” moments, such as the long-range shot that burned the Mexican net, the solo dribble and then the curl that defeated Australia, the classy pass through the gap for Nahuel Molina to score against the Netherlands, the twisting dribble that eliminated top center-back Joskol Gvardiol and then assisted Julian Alvarez to score, or the historic performance against France. Messi leads the 2022 World Cup in shots (32) and shots on target (18), and chances created in open play (17).
In a team of average level, Messi still knows how to shine. He scores, creates, and is willing to shed his timid appearance and rush into opponents to intimidate. A player who elevates the whole team and creates boundless influence both professionally and mentally is obviously considered better than an equally excellent scoring machine, but is just a piece in the overall Man City puzzle that focuses more on philosophy and playing style than on any specific individual.
The gap between the first and last time Messi won the Ballon d’Or was 14 years, the first time at 22 years old, and now at 36 years old. In the history of world football, no player has maintained the pinnacle of greatness for as long as Messi, with records, titles, and personal achievements that are difficult to write down in just one page.
Starting at Barcelona with what was called a contract, which was actually just a few lines scribbled on a napkin, Messi has come a long way. He has become the player with the most titles in the history of world football with 44 trophies.
Messi won the most titles at Barca, with 35 championships including 10 La Liga, 7 Copa del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 4 Champions League, 3 European Super Cups and 3 FIFA Club World Cups. He won 3 more titles at PSG, including 2 Ligue 1 and 1 French Super Cup. Messi won 5 titles with the Argentina national team, including the World Cup, Copa America, Intercontinental Cup, U.20 World Cup and Olympic gold medal. Moving to Inter Miami, Messi continued to win the 2023 Leagues Cup with 10 goals, 1 assist, and was named the tournament’s best player.
“El Pulga” is the embodiment of glory, and above all, stability and endurance at the top that surpasses all human limits. He and Ronaldo set a new standard for the next generation, as coach Pep Guardiola mentioned: “The Golden Ball should have two categories, one for Messi and one for the rest. Messi’s worst season is the best season for the rest of the players.”
In his underrated season at PSG, only four players in Europe’s top five leagues have directly contributed to more goals than Messi (41). The 36-year-old has scored 21 goals, but none of them have come from the penalty spot. According to Opta , in Europe’s top five leagues, Messi has 20 assists, second only to De Bruyne (28). Messi has set such a high standard that, if the Argentine is any worse, it is worse than his own past self. And compared to the majority of the football world, Messi is still very different.
“Messi seems to be moving further away from humanity and closer to the limits of the divine. The 8th Ballon d’Or is a recognition that brings him closer to the Olympus peak of football. The legacy that Messi leaves behind is legendary, with football like a work displayed in a museum. Messi always craves glory, persistently pursuing his passion with his relentless feet, then extending his personal record and bringing back new glories,” AS newspaper commented.
