2023: Ballon d'Or: Top 7 Oldest Players to Win Award as Messi Picks It at 36

• Stanley Matthews is the oldest player to have ever won the Ballon d'Or
• Lionel Messi joined the rank on Monday night when he carted home the 2023 edition of the award
• Karim Benzema and Luka Modric are among the other players who have won the award at an advanced age

Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi has become one of the oldest players to win the Ballon d'Or award.

The Ballon d'Or is awarded to the best and most consistent player in a single year, as voted by a panel of sports journalists, coaches, and national team captains.

On Monday night, October 30, Euro Sport reported that Messi carted home the accolade in a glitzy ceremony hosted in Paris.

The Barcelona legend saw off stiff competition from a host of footballers who were nominated for the award to win it.

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The Argentine had been touted as a favourite for the award after helping the South American football powerhouse win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

At 36, the former Paris Saint-Germain star becomes one of the oldest players to win the Ballon d'Or.

Sports Brief takes a look at the seven oldest players to win the gong.

7. Luka Modric – 33 years and 2 months

In 2018, Luka Modric became the first player to break the Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly for the Ballon d'Or.

The midfield maestro's triumph was a testament to his incredible run that year for both club and country.

Modric helped Real Madrid win the Champions League title, and he was also instrumental in Croatia's run to the World Cup final, where they lost to France.

6. Alfredo di Stefano – 33 years and 5 months

Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano became the first player to win the Ballon d'Or award in 1957.

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Di Stefano won the accolade after an outstanding season with Real Madrid, where he scored 31 goals in 39 appearances to help the Spanish side win the European Cup.

5. Lev Yashin – 34 years and 1 month

Yashin won the award in 1963 to become the first, and only, goalkeeper to win the crown.

He helped the Soviet Union win the European Championship and also had a stellar season for his club side Dynamo Moscow.

4. Lionel Messi - 34 years and 5 months

Messi has enjoyed a remarkable football career over the years.

He became the first player to win the Ballon d'Or award four times in a row between 2009 and 2012.

3. Karim Benzema - 34 years and 10 months

In 2022, Karim Benzema won the Ballon d'Or award, becoming the first French player to win the award since Zinedine Zidane in 1998.

Benzema had helped Real Madrid win the Champions League and the La Liga title.

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2. Lione Messi - 36 years and four months

Messi was crowned the winner of the 2023 edition of the Ballon d'Or award after seeing off stiff competition from Haaland.

The forward helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

1. Stanley Matthews – 41 years and 10 months

According to Sportskeeda, Stanley Matthews is the oldest player to have ever won the Ballon d'Or.

Stanley, who played until the age of 50, spent the majority of his playing career with Stoke City and Blackpool.

Ballon d'Or winner 'leaked' online

Sports Brief also previously reported on the winner of the 2023 Ballon d'Or award reportedly being leaked online, ahead of the gala event in Paris on October 30.

For the chance to be named the best in the world, 30 candidates were announced in September, with Messi, Haaland, and Mbappe the leading contenders.