{"id":239905,"date":"2023-10-31T08:25:11","date_gmt":"2023-10-31T08:25:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/?p=239905"},"modified":"2023-10-31T08:25:11","modified_gmt":"2023-10-31T08:25:11","slug":"lionel-messi-wins-mens-ballon-dor-for-record-eighth-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lovemainstream.com\/world-news\/lionel-messi-wins-mens-ballon-dor-for-record-eighth-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Lionel Messi wins men's Ballon d'Or for record eighth time"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lionel Messi crowned world’s best footballer…AGAIN: World Cup winner is awarded Ballon d’Or for record eighth time at glitzy ceremony with his model wife and three sons by his side<\/h1>\n

Lionel Messi\u00a0was crowned men’s Ballon d’Or winner for a record eighth time last night at a glittering Parisian ceremony where his adoring wife and sons watched on as David Beckham presented him with the award.<\/p>\n

The 36-year-old Inter Miami star is now three clear of rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who won the last of his five\u00a0Ballon d’Or trophies in 2017 and was not in France for the A-list event on Monday.<\/p>\n

In what could be the final time he is crowned the best male footballer on the planet, the\u00a0Rosario-born forward was supported by his wife Antonela Roccuzzo, 35, and their three sons Thiago, 10, Mateo, seven, and Ciro, five.<\/p>\n

Messi has now finished among the top three a record 14 times in total, finishing runner-up on five occasions.\u00a0 He has since inspired US fans after moving to Inter Miami from Paris Saint-Germain, but it was his imperious form in Qatar\u00a0which saw him crowned again following Argentina’s third World Cup win.<\/p>\n

Messi beat Manchester City’s Erling Haaland into second place with France’s Kylian Mbappe\u00a0third.\u00a0England and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham was voted the Kopa Award winner for best Under-21 player in the world.<\/p>\n

In a hint it could be his swansong, he said after collecting the trophy:\u00a0‘Erling deserved it very much too, he has won the Premier League, Champions League while being the top scorer of everything. This award could have been yours today too, I’m sure in the next years you will win it’.<\/p>\n

The event was attended by many of the world’s best male and female footballers and their partners or spouses.<\/p>\n

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Lionel Messi was crowned Ballon d’Or winner for a record eighth time last night after leading Argentina to World Cup glory last year<\/p>\n

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Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi after being awarded the men’s Ballon d’Or by co owner David Beckham<\/p>\n

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Messi hugs his boss Becks after receiving the award<\/p>\n

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Lionel Messi hugs his sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro on stage<\/p>\n

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Antonela Roccuzzo and Lionel Messi with sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro<\/p>\n

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Lionel Messi (L) holding his 8th Ballon d’Or award and FC Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati (R) holding her Woman Ballon d’Or award during the 2023 Ballon d’Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris<\/p>\n

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The packed\u00a0Theatre du Chatelet in Paris for last night’s ceremony<\/p>\n

Accepting the award Messi said: ‘I couldn’t imagine having the career I’ve had and everything I’ve achieved, the fortune I’ve had to be part of the best team in history.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Lionel Messi’s childhood sweetheart Antonela Roccuzzo steals the show she poses in gorgeous black gown with their children at the 2023 Ballon d’Or<\/h3>\n

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‘It’s nice to be here once more to enjoy this moment. To be able to win the World Cup and achieve my dream. To win the Copa America\u00a0and to get the World Cup after all those difficult moments for the national team (was fantastic).’<\/p>\n

David Beckham, the co-owner of Inter Miami, presented him with the coveted award at the\u00a0Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, to a standing ovation from members of the crowd.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘It’s nice to be here once more to enjoy this moment,’ said Messi. ‘To be able to win the World Cup and achieve my dream.’<\/p>\n

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati, who won a league and Champions League double before playing a pivotal role in her country’s World Cup triumph, won the women’s Ballon d’Or.<\/p>\n

Treble winners Manchester City were crowned men’s team of the season while Haaland won the Gerd Muller Trophy for the world’s top-scoring striker after hitting a record 56 goals last season.<\/p>\n

Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez\u00a0won the Lev Yashin Trophy for goalkeeper of the year after starring alongside Messi in their nation’s World Cup win.<\/p>\n

The four-time champions league winner beat some tough competition to claim first place, with Erling Haaland coming in second, Kylian Mbappe coming in third and Kevin De Bruyne ranking fourth.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Lionel Messi, his wife Antonela and their children are surrounded by fans as they leave their hotel<\/p>\n


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Lionel Messi claimed his eighth Ballon d’Or title on Monday night in Paris<\/p>\n

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Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi after winning the men’s Ballon d’Or with his sons<\/p>\n

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Sharp:\u00a0Messi, 36, looked very dapper with a sharp black suit with a white shirt and a black bow tie<\/p>\n

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Glam:\u00a0The 35-year-old donned an elegant floor length gown with a gold chain enhancing the ensemble’s asymmetric one shoulder look<\/p>\n

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Lionel Messi holds his awards for best player and top scorer after Miami defeated Nashville SC in the 2023 Leagues Cup final in August<\/p>\n

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The four-time Champions League winner arrived at the event alongside his family<\/p>\n

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Support:\u00a0The couple’s three sons, Thiago, 10, Mateo, 7, and Ciro, 5, stood proudly together with their parents<\/p>\n

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Former English football player and Inter Miami’s co-owner David Beckham speaks on stage during the 2023 Ballon d’Or France Football award ceremony<\/p>\n

2023 Ballon d’Or rankings\u00a0<\/h3>\n