Messi’s legacy: remember the eighth Ballon d’Or that marked the history of world football

In a gala night at Théâtre du Châtelet, in Paris, world football witnessed a historic moment in 2023. The achievement was the culmination of a memorable season, driven decisively by his iconic performance in the Copa of the 2022 Mundo, where he led the Argentina to their third championship.

At 36 years old and playing for Inter Miami, from Estados Unidos, the Argentine star overcame strong competitors such as Erling Haaland, from Manchester City, and Kylian Mbappé, from Paris Saint-Germain, who completed the podium. The award not only celebrated Messi’s individual talent, but also recognized the weight of a collective achievement that marked the player’s career and moved an entire nation, solidifying his place in the pantheon of the greatest athletes of all time.

The event, organized by France Football magazine, served as a milestone to reevaluate the player’s career, who continues to display a level of excellence even after leaving elite European football. Bola’s eighth Ouro is a testament to their longevity, resilience and the magic that continues to enchant football fans around the globe.

The definitive consecration after Copa of Mundo

The main catalyst for the eighth Bola of Ouro of Lionel Messi was, without a doubt, his performance in the Copa of Messi not only participated, he was the absolute protagonist of the Argentine campaign, scoring goals in all stages of the knockout stages, an unprecedented feat in the history of the competition.

His leadership on the field was fundamental, combining moments of technical genius with fierce determination. The final against França, considered by many to be one of the greatest of all time, was the perfect stage for his consecration. Scoring two goals in the match and converting his penalty shootout, he was the driving force that led Albiceleste to glory after 36 years of waiting.

This achievement had immense symbolic weight, ending debates about his performance for the national team and meeting the expectations of a country passionate about football. The 2023 Bola of Ouro, therefore, was more than a prize for a season; it was recognition of a journey of overcoming that culminated in the biggest title in the sport.

The competitors and other winners of the night

The 2023 ceremony also celebrated other big names who shone in the world football season. On the men’s podium, the Norwegian Erling Haaland came in second place, in recognition of his spectacular season in the Manchester City, where he was top scorer and a key player in winning the triple crown, including the unprecedented Liga of the Campeões for the English club. Kylian Mbappé, Messi’s teammate at PSG at the time and his opponent in the Copa final, came third, standing out for his performance in the world cup, where he was the top scorer.

In women’s football, the Spanish Aitana Bonmatí, from Barcelona, was the big winner of the Bola from Ouro, crowning a year in which she won the Liga from the The Troféu Yashin, for best goalkeeper, went to Emiliano Martínez, Argentine hero alongside Messi in winning the World Cup. Young Englishman Jude Bellingham, from Real Madrid, took the Troféu Kopa, destined for the best under-21 player, while Brazilian Vinicius Junior was honored with the Prêmio Sócrates for his social work through

A retrospective of hegemony in the 21st century

Lionel Messi’s conquest extends an era of dominance he shared with Cristiano Ronaldo for over a decade. Since the beginning of this rivalry, the award has seen winners such as Michael Owen (2001), Ronaldo Fenômeno (2002), Ronaldinho Gaúcho (2005) and Kaká (2007), the last Brazilian to receive the honor. From 2008 onwards, the world of football witnessed an almost exclusive alternation between Argentine and Portuguese, a dispute that raised performance standards to extraordinary levels.

The sequence was interrupted punctually by Luka Modric in 2018, after taking Croácia to the final of Copa of Mundo, and by Karim Benzema in 2022, awarded for his brilliant season in Real Madrid. However, Messi’s return to the top in 2021 and 2023 reaffirmed its consistency. With eight trophies, he distanced himself from Cristiano Ronaldo, who has five, setting a record that seems unattainable for future generations and defining a unique chapter in the history of the sport.

The impact of the award on North American football

Messi’s victory had a special meaning as it was the first time that a player playing outside of Europa won Bola from Sua transfer to Inter Miami, a club from Major League Soccer (MLS), had already generated a seismic impact on Estados Unidos football, and the award amplified this relevance on a global scale. MLS, once seen as a destination for players at the end of their careers, has now become the home of the officially recognized best player in the world.

This fact brought unprecedented visibility and prestige to the North American league. Demand for tickets, subscriptions to the league’s streaming service and Inter Miami jerseys has soared, in a phenomenon known as the “Messi effect.” Winning Bola from Ouro validated the player’s decision and strengthened the image of MLS as a championship on the rise, capable of attracting and retaining world-class talent.

For the football growth project in the Estados Unidos, which is preparing to host the Copa of the Mundo, having the holder of the Bola of

A legacy that transcends numbers

In addition to the eight trophies from Bola from Ouro, the four Ligas from Campeões, and the Copa from Mundo, the legacy of For nearly two decades, he remained at the top, adapting his style of play as time progressed. From a fast, dribbling winger in his early days at Barcelona, he transformed into a brilliant playmaker, capable of dictating the pace of a match with his vision and precision in his passes.

His career is a lesson in consistency, professionalism and passion for the sport. Messi became a reference not only for his innate talent, but for his ability to reinvent himself and continue deciding games on the biggest stages in the world. Ele inspired a generation of players who grew up watching his plays and dreaming of replicating his magic, leaving an indelible mark on the way football is played and perceived.

The debate over the greatest in history

The eighth Bola of Ouro forcefully reignited the debate about who is the greatest football player of all time. Para Many fans, analysts and former players, Copa’s achievement of Mundo combined with this individual record ended the discussion in favor of Messi. Seus’s feats place him on an exclusive shelf, comparable only to legends like Pelé and Diego Maradona, who defined their respective eras. Messi’s consistency over so many years and his success at all levels of the sport provide solid arguments that place him at the top of this historic conversation.