Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) has ascended to the status of a football god in his own right by lifting his 8th Ballon d’Or. However, there are differing opinions about Messi’s Ballon d’Or win.
Messi joined the ranks of the greatest players of all time (GOAT) last month. He won the Ballon d’Or, the most prestigious individual award in football, for the 8th time.
This year, Messi, reflecting on his victory at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar last year, ousted Erling Haaland (Manchester City) and Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) to become the star of the Ballon d’Or.
He rewrote the record for the most Ballon d’Or wins he holds. Messi, who first received the Ballon d’Or in 2009, set a unique record by winning four consecutive times until 2012. He demonstrated his unwavering skills, winning again in 2015, 2019, and 2021. The 7 wins seemed challenging to break, but he added one more this year, achieving the unprecedented feat of holding the golden ball 8 times.
Messi’s Ballon d’Or win is primarily credited to his World Cup victory. He achieved his long-cherished World Cup win in Qatar. From the group stage to the final, he played a crucial role in Argentina’s victory, scoring 7 goals in 7 matches.
Although Messi was deemed the most suitable for the Ballon d’Or this year, considerable opposition exists. Even Lothar Matthaus, a German legend and 1990 Ballon d’Or winner, argued, “Haaland played better than Messi. Looking at the last 12 months, Haaland’s record is the best. He swept all major awards at Manchester City. Messi’s win is a laughing matter.”
Paulo Dybala (AS Roma) rebutted in response to this public opinion. Dybala, a teammate of the Argentine national team, emphasized through ‘Sports Brief,’ “Messi is a player who plays a completely different football. That’s why he has won the Ballon d’Or for several years, even if he didn’t win the World Cup.” He continued, “Messi has always been the best since his debut. And he has cleared any doubts about himself at the World Cup. Messi is the best in history.”
He added, “I understand that there can be bias against Messi. But we have to look at it objectively. This year was the year of the World Cup, which is the world’s most important tournament. There is no room for debate about Messi’s Ballon d’Or.”
By. Cho Yong Woon
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