Image: AFP
The Argentine world champion won the coveted trophy for the eighth time and thus extended his status as the record winner ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo (5). The 36-year-old was the clear favorite due to the World Cup title with the “Albiceleste” in December 2022.
The decisive factor for awarding the Ballon d’Or is the performance of the previous season, i.e. in the current case those of the 2022/23 season, which also included the final round in Qatar. In the poll conducted among selected journalists, Erling Haaland from treble winners Manchester City and the defeated World Cup finalist Kylian Mbappe ended up behind Messi. The honor for best female footballer went to Aitana Bonmati (FC Barcelona).
The “Kopa Trophy” for the best kicker under the age of 21 was won by the Englishman Jude Bellingham, David Alaba’s club colleague at Real Madrid. Argentina’s world champion goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez received the “Yachine Trophy” for the best goalkeeper and had to put up with a few boos due to his actions in and after the World Cup final against France, so that even presenter Didier Drogba urged the audience to be fair .
Haaland won the “Gerd Müller Trophy” for the best striker, while Manchester City (men) and FC Barcelona (women) were named the teams of the season.
more from international football
Bet on his team’s games: Italian football star banned for 10 months
8-0 win – FC Bayern overwhelmed Darmstadt on Neuer’s comeback
50 pounds: Borussia Dortmund’s team bus gets a parking ticket in Newcastle
Sturm took a point from Atalanta
: Nachrichten
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
