Lionel Messi won the 2023 Ballon d’Or despite moving from Europe to Inter Miami on a free transfer in the summer.
Lionel Messi decided to accept a move to Florida following the expiration of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain, with the veteran forward enjoying an impressive start to life in the US.
Despite no longer competing in the UEFA Champions League, a change in Ballon d’Or voting criteria from 2022 means he was in line to win the award for 2023, ahead of Manchester City machine Erling Haaland.
Ballon d’Or voting now focuses on the previous season rather than the calendar year, with Messi’s inspirational leadership of Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title proving to be the deciding factor.
Lionel Messi’s individual awards
Messi is the most successful player in Ballon d’Or history with eight titles won between 2009 and 2023, ahead of arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo on five.
Six of Messi’s Ballon d’Or wins came as a Barcelona player for the 2021 award in the months following his arrival at PSG. Although he did not win based on performances for Inter Miami in 2023 – which would not be allowed due to the criteria for the award – he is the first soccer player to win the award while playing in MLS.
His magic in the final third has captivated the world for the past 15 years and as a result, he’s picked up numerous individual honours.
| Award | Titles | Year/Season |
|---|---|---|
| Ballon d’Or (World Player of the Year) |
7 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021.2023 |
| FIFA World Cup Golden Ball (Best player of the tournament) |
2 | 2014, 2022 |
| Argentina Player of the Year | 14 | 2005, 2007-2013, 2015-2017, 2019-2021 |
| La Liga Player of the Year | 6 | 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2014/15 |
| La Liga’s top scorer (Pichichi trophy) |
8 | 2009/10, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 |
| European Golden Boot (Top scorer in Europe) |
6 | 2009/10, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19 |
| FIFA World Player of the Year (Awarded from 1991-2015) |
1 | 2009 |
| FIFA The Best Award (Player of the Year est. 2015) |
2 | 2019, 2022 |
| FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball | 2 | 2009, 2011 |
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