Ballon d’Or 2023: Messi Gives Honest Opinion About Haaland and Mbappe After Winning 8th Prize

• Lionel Messi edged Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to win his eighth Ballon d'Or prize
• After reaching his unprecedented feat, Messi heaped praise on Haaland and Mbappe
• With eight, he is now three ahead of his old rival, Cristiano Ronaldo

Lionel Messi clinched his historic eighth Ballon d'Or, capping off a year highlighted by his triumphant FIFA World Cup win with Argentina in Qatar, during which he notched an impressive six goals.

The Inter Miami superstar further solidified his record for securing the esteemed individual accolade in football, surpassing competition from Manchester City's goal-scoring sensation Erling Haaland and his former teammate at PSG, Kylian Mbappe.

In securing the 2023 Ballon d'Or on Monday, October 30, the revered Argentine maestro extended his lead over long-standing rival Cristiano Ronaldo, boasting a total of three wins to Ronaldo's five, as cited by talkSPORT.

Ronaldo reacts after magical performance in Portugal's demolition exercise against Bosnia

Football

Haaland, Mbappe miss out on Ballon d'Or

Haaland's stellar debut season at Man City, where he netted a remarkable 52 goals across all competitions, including 36 in the Premier League and 12 in the Champions League, ultimately fell short of earning him the coveted individual honour this year.

Meanwhile, the outcome of the 2022 World Cup final penalty shootout could have significantly altered the fate of PSG's all-time top scorer Mbappe, who delivered an awe-inspiring hat-trick and notched a historic total of four World Cup final goals at the age of 24.

However, despite his exceptional performance, the Frenchman settled for third place, with the spotlight firmly fixed on Messi's moment of glory.

Messi salutes Haaland and Mbappe

When questioned about his fellow contenders for this year's award, Messi commented, as reported by EuroFoot:

"Very soon, they will also be winners of the Ballon d'Or. They are two extraordinary players."

Lionel Messi: Argentine star reportedly 'wins eighth Ballon d'Or' after World Cup success

Football

"I shared two years in the same club as Kylian. I know his talent, his immense talent... Haaland also an extraordinary career."

Messi scoops 8th Ballon d'Or prize

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that amid a dazzling event in Paris on Monday, Messi clinched his remarkable eighth Ballon d'Or, while Aitana Bonmati, the World Cup-winning Spanish star, secured the women's prize.

For Messi, the prestigious award is a recognition of his exceptional displays, notably during the previous year's World Cup in Qatar.

His pivotal role in leading Argentina to triumph, marked by his seven goals and title as the tournament's best player, has been celebrated with this coveted trophy.