Athletistic/Football. On October 30, the Ballon d’Or was awarded based on the results of the 2022/23 season. The prize was won by Argentinian Lionel Messi.

Many coaches, football players and experts agreed that Messi deservedly won the 8th Ballon d’Or of his career. This is an absolute record. Messi received this prestigious award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

“Messi should be an example for Brazilian players. The guy is 36 years old, world champion, won the Ballon d’Or and all that. He should be an example of dedication for young people.

Anyone who wants to win the Ballon d’Or must be dedicated, must be a professional. This does not go well with parties and gatherings,” Brazilian President Lula da Silva wrote on social media.

“It’s an incredible achievement, Leo fully deserves this award. He is the best and it is very important both for him personally and for all of Argentina.

For me, as a coach, the opportunity to work with him and be his compatriot is a great happiness.

I think we should give him credit and congratulate him because it is a great and unique achievement,” said Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

“Two factors played a decisive role yesterday. First, Argentina’s victory at the World Cup. Messi is the obvious leader of this team. They marched for a very long time towards the big title. They stumbled time and again, but finally managed to do it. realize their dearest dream. This deserves all possible praise. Secondly, it’s a tribute to Messi! I think it’s a nice gesture to say goodbye to Leo. His times , unfortunately, is coming to an end. It was Messi Or’s last Ball. Now it’s for sure. I don’t even know what would have to happen for this to happen again. It’s sad to know that the era of Ronaldo and Messi is over. But such is the world of football. The time of the other guys is coming – “Haaland and Mbappé. I am sure that together they will receive more than one Ballon d’Or. But with Messi, it had to be nice to say goodbye! He fully deserved this award,” said former Russian national team goalkeeper Ruslan Nigmatullin.

“For me, Messi was definitely the favorite for the Ballon d’Or. He won the World Cup almost alone with the Argentine national team, showed his best game. Everything is on point. I think in the 10- Next 15 years “It will be very difficult to get close to his eight awards. Then, maybe a new Messi or Maradona will be born,” noted former Russian national football team player Valery Kechinov.

“Congratulations to Messi on winning his eighth Ballon d’Or – an incredible achievement! A well-deserved reward after leading Argentina to victory at the World Cup in Qatar.

Thank you for bringing so much happiness to football fans around the world throughout your wonderful career,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino wrote on social media.

“There can’t even be any doubt about Messi’s Ballon d’Or. World champion! Haaland is good, but gold at the World Cup is a great reward. If you choose from those who haven’t yet received the Ballon d’Or, “But maybe you will get it soon, then you can name Bellingham, the same Haaland. Mbappe can too, but if he leaves PSG,” said former Spartak footballer Andrei Eshchenko.

Earlier it became known that Barcelona intends to hold a full-fledged farewell ceremony for the legendary striker of the Catalan club Lionel Messi after the completion of the reconstruction of the Spotify Camp Nou stadium.

It is reported that an additional incentive for the Barcelona management to organize a large-scale farewell ceremony for the Argentine striker was his speech at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony, during which Messi said that he would like to say goodbye to the fans. of the Catalan club in a different way, and not as it happened in 2021 due to the restrictions caused by the coronavirus infection.

Barcelona intends to hold this event in November 2024, when the Blaugrana stadium will be rebuilt and its capacity will increase by 60%.

Andrey Andreev, Sport.Ru


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