Kylian Mbappe has shown a touching gesture of respect towards Lionel Messi following Messi’s historic eighth Ballon d’Or win.
Messi’s remarkable 2022/23 season, which included successes with Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 and his pivotal role in Argentina’s World Cup victory, ending a 36-year drought for his nation, made him the clear favorite to secure the prestigious award.
Messi’s triumph was evident after Argentina’s World Cup victory, although it’s worth mentioning that the World Cup final against France, held in Qatar, was a closely contested match that could have gone either way.
Kylian Mbappe’s outstanding hat-trick performance in a penalty shootout could have earned him the Ballon d’Or had France emerged victorious. However, displaying exceptional sportsmanship, Mbappe took to Instagram to congratulate Messi on his well-deserved accolade, expressing, “Congratulations Leo for your award. You deserve it.”
Messi’s illustrious record now includes eight Ballon d’Or titles, achieved in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023. While Cristiano Ronaldo has secured the honor five times (in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017), football legends such as Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, and Marco van Basten have each claimed the award three times.
In this particular year, Messi faced formidable competition from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Rodri, as well as the gracious Mbappe.
During his acceptance speech, Messi displayed humility by sharing the honor with his international teammates and acknowledging their collective contributions to his success. He also praised the emerging talents in the football world, singling out Kylian, Erling, and Kevin, and highlighting the bright futures that await them.
Messi’s joy in winning the World Cup was evident, and he dedicated the Ballon d’Or to the realization of his dream achievement.
He expressed gratitude to his wife and paid a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Diego Maradona, noting that the award was particularly significant as it fell on Maradona’s birthday. The evening was truly remarkable in celebrating these exceptional talents and their achievements
