Messi wins the Ballon d’Or for the eighth time, and Xavi Simons is sixth in the talent elections
Messi, currently an American player for Inter Miami, won the World Cup with Argentina at the end of 2022. The cup was presented by David Beckham, owner of Inter Miami. The 36-year-old Argentine star became the first player ever to win the Ballon d’Or while playing outside of Europe.
Behind Messi, Erling Haaland, Manchester City’s goal machine, is in second place. In third place was Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe, who lost the World Cup final to Messi’s Argentina.
By winning the Ballon d’Or, Messi succeeds Karim Benzema, who ranked sixteenth in these elections. The young Argentine previously won the prestigious individual award in football in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.
Ronaldo
The only other footballer who comes close to Messi in terms of winning the Ballon d’Or is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese striker from Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia has won the cup five times, but was not even selected for this edition. Johan Cruyff won the Ballon d’Or three times.
For the election, the organization looked at performance between August 1, 2022 and July 31, 2023. There were no Dutchmen among the remaining 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or.
Simmons comes in sixth place in the talent award
Xavi Simons finished sixth in the competition for the Copa Trophy – the award for the world’s greatest talent. The Netherlands international, who currently plays for RB Leipzig, made a big impression at PSV Eindhoven last year.
The Copa Cup was won by midfielder Jude Bellingham, who excelled last season by scoring fourteen goals in 42 matches with Borussia Dortmund. The Englishman has been playing with Real Madrid since the summer.
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