Lionel Messi clinched his record on Monday. Messi, who captained Argentina to 2022 World Cup success in Qatar, pipped Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
Messi had also scored 32 goals in 55 games across all competitions for PSG, helping them win the Ligue 1 title. Erling Haaland came second in the rankings after his excellent season helping Man City win the treble. Kylian Mbappe came third, after the France superstar lead his team to the final of the World Cup in 2022 – where he scored a hat-trick.
David Beckham, the co-owner of Inter Miami, presented him with the coveted award at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.
There were seven Man City players included in the rankings with five of them, Haaland, De Bruyne (4th), Rodri (5th), Julian Alvarez (7th) Bernardo Silva (9th) making the top ten.
Barcelona mid-fielder Aitana Bonmati claimed the women’s Ballon d’Or. She had guided the Spain to World Cup glory in the summer, where she was named the player of the tournament after her epic performances. She also helped her club side clinch their fourth successive Liga F title, also winning the women’s Champions League this year.
“I’m very proud to win the Ballon d’Or,’ she said. ‘Football is a collective sport so I’d like to extend this prize to my team-mates and staff.
