Messi paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Argentine legend Diego Maradona, whose 63rd birthday would have been celebrated on Monday.
“Happy birthday Diego. This victory is dedicated to you as well,” he warmly expressed.
Messi’s triumph was made possible by a recent rule change that considers a player’s performance over the past season, rather than the calendar year.
At the age of 36, Messi, who first claimed the Ballon d’Or in 2009, now boasts eight of these prestigious awards. He has moved three steps ahead of his long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, who is the second most decorated player in the history of this accolade.
Whether Messi will continue to be a contender for this honor in the future is uncertain, as the selection process involves one journalist from each of the top 100 nations in the FIFA ranking.
For details check out: Ballon d’Or 2023: Lionel Messi wins record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or award following World Cup success – Eurosport