Messi won the eighth and record Ballon d'Or, and Bonmati wins the women's prize.






Messi won the eighth and record Ballon d'Or, and Bonmati wins the women's prize.




Lionel Messi won the 2023 Ballon d'Or, setting a record by winning the prize eight times; The captain of Argentina lifted the trophy for the first time last year, leading his nation to World Cup victory; Aitana Bonmati, a midfielder for Spain, won the Women's Ballon d'Or after leading her nation to the World Cup.







For a record-breaking eighth time, Argentina's Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or, and Spain's Aitana Bonmati has won the Women's Ballon d'Or.




Messi, who is currently playing for Inter Miami, helped his nation win the World Cup in 2017 when he took home the trophy for the first time and was named the tournament's best player in Qatar by the Golden Ball award.




The 36-year-old added to his victories in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021 when he recovered the Ballon d'Or from Karim Benzema of France.

With this victory, the former Barcelona forward widens his lead over Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time winner. For the first time since 2003, the 38-year-old Portugal international, who plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, was not included on the shortlist.

Messi moved from Paris Saint-Germain, where he won the Ligue 1 title in both seasons, to Inter Miami, an MLS team, at the end of the previous season, leaving European football behind.

Messi was presented with the award by David Beckham, owner of Inter Miami and runner-up in the 1999 Ballon d'Or, and the Argentine admitted this will be his last Ballon d'Or win.










He said: "I couldn't imagine having the career that I've had.




"Everything that I've achieved. The fortune I've had playing for the best team in the world, the best team in history. It's nice to win these individual trophies. To win the Copa America and then the World Cup, to get it done is amazing.




"Being world champion was fantastic. But the truth is I've never really got used to receiving awards and being on the stage like this.




"Slowly I have got used to it a bit more since winning it for the first time in 2009. I think today is the last time I will win it, so it feels calmer and I will enjoy it in a different way.




"I'm proud of the career I've had. I've enjoyed football all my life and soon I'll enjoy it from the other side.




"I don't know for how much longer I'll play but I plan to enjoy it.




"I can't put a number on it as things can change very quickly from day to day in football. But I know that day is getting closer and closer."

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