Featured Image Credit: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images. Tibor Illyes - Pool/Getty Images
Topics: Lionel Messi, Football, Sport
Stewart Perrie
Topics: Lionel Messi, Football, Sport
Lionel Messi's eighth Ballon d'Or win has resulted in fans calling him the undisputed greatest of all time in football.
The Argentinian star was given football's biggest accolade during a glitzy ceremony in Paris this week.
He was rewarded for helping his home country win the FIFA World Cup final over France late last year.
After being given the huge, golden football trophy by David Beckham, Messi said: "It's nice to be here once more to enjoy this moment.
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"To be able to win the World Cup and achieve my dream."
He was asked whether this Ballon d"Or was extra special because it was for Argentina winning the World Cup, however the legend said every single one of them has been special.
Messi managed to beat out the likes of Erling Haaland, who came in second in the rankings, as well as Kylian Mbappe, third, Kevin De Bruyne, fourth, and Rodri, who was in fifth place.
Now that he's won the Ballon d'Or for a record eighth time, fans reckon this settles the debate once and for all that he's the GOAT.
Even the Guinness Book of World Records declared him the greatest.
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Some people went as far as saying he's the GOAT of sport.
Fans with throw around names like Michael Jordan or Tom Brady, but Messi has outshined them both in terms of championship or title wins.
Jordan has six rings, Brady has seven and Messi now has eight.
There has been an ongoing debate about whether Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo is better at football.
Ronaldo already declared earlier this year that the rivalry is over between them.
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“It was good, a healthy rivalry that spectators liked a lot," Ronaldo said (via NBC).
"Whoever likes Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t have to hate Messi or vice-versa because they’re both very good. They changed the history of football, and they keep on doing it.”
“We are respected throughout the world, that’s the most important thing.
"He makes his way, I make mine, even if we are playing outside Europe. He has done well, from what I’ve seen, and so have I. It’s about continuing. The legacy continues.
"The rivalry, I don’t see things like that. I’ve already said, we’ve shared the stage for 15 years and we ended up being, I wouldn’t say friends, because I never dined with him, but we are professional colleagues and we respect each other.”
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Interestingly, Ronaldo was left off the list of nominees for the 2023 Ballon d'Or.
He has won the award five times and had been nominated every year since 2013, except for this year.