The plaudits for Leo Messi completing football with a World Cup triumph continued as he was awarded an eighth Ballon d’Or win in Paris.
The Inter Miami megastar extended his record for winning the grandest individual prize in football to three over long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s five.
Messi beats Haaaland for Ballon d’Or
Finishing behind the 36-year-old were European treble winner Erling Haaland and his fellow World Cup final giant, France’s Kylian Mbappe.
Haaland enjoyed an incredible debut season at Manchester City as he scored 52 goals in all competitions,
with 36 of them coming in the Premier League and 12 in the Champions League,
But the top individual prize in football has evaded him this year.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Mbappe may well have taken the award had the 2022 World Cup final penalty shootout gone the other way, with the 24-year-old scoring a jaw-dropping hat-trick, making it four World Cup final goals, the most in history.
But it was Messi who instead prevailed, burying his spot-kick after two earlier goals in the 3-3 draw.
All in all in Qatar, Messi recorded seven goals and three assists in just seven games as he captained Argentina to their third crown, and their first since 1986 with Diego Maradona.
Jude Bellingham wins Kopa Trophy
Jude Bellingham’s dream week has continued as he landed the Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d’Or ceremony this year.
The England international has had a sensational 12 months at Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid,
Who he signed for in the transfer window.
And the 20-year-old has wasted no time in becoming the main man at the Bernabeu,
Scoring 13 times in 13 appearances and two assists.
That also includes a jaw-dropping display in El Clasico after bagging all three points against Barcelona
With a stunning 30-yard howitzer before scoring the winner in a 2-1 victory.
He has also scored three in three Champions League matches and been given the man-of-the-match award 10 times.
The Stourbridge-born star’s electric start to life Spain has led to many to claim that he is currently the best player in the world.
