Lionel Messi received the noble title, Erling Haaland was the best striker

Lionel Messi officially became the winner of the 2023 Ballon d'Or when his name was announced by David Beckham at the awards ceremony held at the Theatre du Chatele (Paris, France).

Quả bóng vàng 2023: Lionel Messi nhận danh hiệu cao quý, Erling Haaland là tiền đạo xuất sắc nhất

Superstar Lionel Messi wins the 2023 Ballon d'Or. (Source: AFP)

Lionel Messi brilliantly won the 2023 Ballon d'Or.

This result is not entirely unexpected, as there had been numerous reports "confirming" that the Argentine superstar would win the award.

In this race, Lionel Messi has surpassed two other competitors, Erling Braut Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

Messi had a hugely successful 2022-2023 season with the national team, playing a major role in helping Argentina win the 2022 World Cup.

In Qatar, Messi had a stellar performance, scoring 7 goals, including a brace against France in the final. He also became the first player in World Cup history to score in the group stage, round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final.

Wearing the Paris Saint-Germain jersey, the star born in 1987 also scored 21 goals and provided 20 assists, helping the French team win the Ligue 1 title.

Meanwhile, Ballon d'Or winner Erling Haaland also had an incredibly impressive season, scoring 52 goals and playing a major role in helping Man City win the historic treble of the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.

Haaland has also won numerous prestigious individual awards such as the European Golden Boot, Champions League top scorer, European Player of the Year, PFA Player of the Season, FWA Player of the Year, etc.

Haaland achieved so much glory last season, but unfortunately, Messi didn't win the World Cup.

Lionel Messi sets an unprecedented record.

With his name announced at the Theatre du Chatele, Lionel Messi has won his eighth Ballon d'Or.

Previously, La Pulga had won this award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2021.

With this achievement, the Argentine superstar has set an unprecedented record, as it will be very difficult for any player to catch up anytime soon, given the enormous gap between Messi and the rest.

Not only that, Messi also became the first player in history to win the Ballon d'Or while playing for three different clubs: Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami.

"It's a pleasure to be here again to enjoy this moment," Lionel Messi shared his feelings on the awards stage. "Thank you to everyone, especially my teammates. Thank you to everyone who voted for me. This Ballon d'Or is a wonderful gift for all Argentinians."

"I would also like to thank my entire family, my wife and my children for being there for me during the worst times and for helping me fulfill my dream in football."

"I want to mention Diego Maradona one last time. Happy birthday, Diego. I think there's no better place to send you my best wishes than here."

Awards in other categories

The 2023 Women's Ballon d'Or award went to midfielder Aitana Bonmati after an incredibly successful season with Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

The 25-year-old star won the treble with the Barcelona women's team, including La Liga F, the Women's Champions League, and the Spanish Super Cup. At the national team level, Bonmati won the 2023 Women's World Cup with the Spanish women's team in Australia and New Zealand.

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham won the award for best young player, also known as the Kopa Trophy.

This result is seen as a stepping stone for Jude Bellingham towards a future Ballon d'Or race. Especially this season, the English star is performing impressively for Real Madrid with 13 goals in 13 matches across all competitions.

At the Yashin Awards, Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa and the Argentina national team was honored. This award is entirely deserved, given Martinez's impressive performance in helping Argentina win the 2022 World Cup.