Ballon d’Or 2023: Messi Wins Eighth Award As Bonmati Claims Women’s Crown [Full List]

Argentine forward, Lionel Messi has secured his eighth Ballon d’Or, while Spain’s midfielder Aitana Bonmati clinched the Women’s Ballon d’Or.

Now plying his trade with Inter Miami, Messi led Argentina to their first-ever World Cup victory last year, earning the Golden Ball for his exceptional performance.

The 36-year-old reclaimed the Ballon d’Or from France’s Karim Benzema, adding to his accolades in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2021.

His triumph further solidified his lead over five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who was notably absent from the shortlist for the first time since 2003.

Lionel Messi made the transition from Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami at the end of the previous season.

David Beckham, owner of Inter Miami and 1999 Ballon d’Or runner-up, presented the award to Messi, who declared that this would be his final Ballon d’Or win.

Messi expressed his pride in his career, emphasizing his enjoyment of football throughout his life and his anticipation of experiencing it from a different perspective soon.

He said: “I couldn’t imagine having the career that I’ve had.

“Everything that I’ve achieved. The fortune I’ve had playing for the best team in the world, the best team in history. It’s nice to win these individual trophies. To win the Copa America and then the World Cup, to get it done is amazing.

“Being world champion was fantastic. But the truth is I’ve never really got used to receiving awards and being on the stage like this.

“Slowly I have got used to it a bit more since winning it for the first time in 2009. I think today is the last time I will win it, so it feels calmer and I will enjoy it in a different way.

“I’m proud of the career I’ve had. I’ve enjoyed football all my life and soon I’ll enjoy it from the other side.

“I don’t know for how much longer I’ll play but I plan to enjoy it. I can’t put a number on it as things can change very quickly from day to day in football. But I know that day is getting closer and closer.”

Erling Haaland of Manchester City and Kylian Mbappe of PSG finished second and third, respectively, in the Ballon d’Or rankings.

Haaland, not leaving the ceremony empty-handed, received the Gerd Muller Trophy for his record-breaking goal tally in the previous season.

Meanwhile, his team Man City were named the men’s club of the year for a second year running after winning the Treble.

Pep Guardiola’s side also had five players in the Ballon d’Or top 10 as Kevin De Bruyne finished fourth while Rodri came fifth, Julian Alvarez – also a team-mate of Messi at international level – was seventh, and Bernardo Silva was ninth.

On the women’s side, Aitana Bonmati, a midfielder from Barcelona, secured her first Women’s Ballon d’Or after aiding Spain in their maiden World Cup victory and claiming league and Champions League titles at the club level.

Bonmati won the Golden Ball for the best player of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, while she was recently named UEFA Women’s Player of the Year.

The 25-year-old became the second Spanish player to win the Women’s Ballon d’Or after Barcelona compatriot Alexia Putellas was awarded the prize for the last two years.

“”I’m very proud to win this Ballon d’Or tonight,” Bonmati said after receiving the award.

“It’s an individual prize but football is a team sport, so I’d like to extend this prize to my teammates and staff at Barcelona, and my international teammates as well. I wouldn’t be here without them.”

Bonmati beat Chelsea and Australia striker Sam Kerr to the award, while England and Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps finished fifth in the voting after winning the Golden Glove at the World Cup.

Fellow Lionesses Rachel Daly (10th), Millie Bright (11th) and Georgia Stanway (23rd) were among the nominees for the fifth edition of the women’s award, with Arsenal and Republic of Ireland’s Katie McCabe finishing 22nd.

Meanwhile, Bonmati’s team Barcelona won the women’s club of the year award after they won the Champions League and Spanish league title last season.

Argentina and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez won the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper in the world.

Martinez claimed the award ahead of Manchester City’s Ederson for his heroics at the World Cup last year to help his country lift the trophy.

The 31-year-old became the second Premier League goalkeeper to take home the Yashin Trophy after its inception in 2019, with the inaugural award won by Liverpool’s Alisson Becker.

2023 Ballon d’Or Winners

2023 Men’s Ballon d’Or – Top 30

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina, Inter Miami)
2. Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
3. Kylian Mbappe (France, PSG)
4. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium, Manchester City)
5. Rodri (Spain, Manchester City)
6. Vinicius Junior (Brazil, Real Madrid)
7. Julian Alvarez (Argentina, Manchester City)
8. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Napoli)
9. Bernardo Silva (Portugal, Manchester City)
10. Luka Modric (Croatia, Real Madrid)
11. Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
12. Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Barcelona)
13. Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)
14. Ilkay Gundogan (Germany, Barcelona)
15. Emiliano Martinez (Argentina, Aston Villa)
16. Karim Benzema (France, Al Ittihad)
17. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia, Napoli)
18. Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
19. Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
20. Lautaro Martinez (Argentina, Inter Milan)
21. Antoine Griezmann (France, Atletico Madrid)
22. Min-Jae Kim (South Korea, Bayern Munich)
23. Andre Onana (Cameroon, Manchester United)
24. Bukayo Saka (England, Arsenal)
25. Josko Gvardiol (Croatia, Manchester City)
26. Jamal Musiala (Germany, Bayern Munich)
27. Nicolo Barella (Italy, Inter Milan)
28. Martin Odegaard (Norway, Arsenal)
29. Randal Kolo Muani (France, PSG)
30. Ruben Dias (Portugal, Manchester City)

2023 Women’s Ballon d’Or – Top 10

1. Aitana Bonmati (Spain, Barcelona)
2. Sam Kerr (Australia, Chelsea)
3. Salma Paralluelo (Spain, Barcelona)
4. Fridolina Rolfo (Sweden, Barcelona)
5. Mary Earps (England, Manchester United)
6. Olga Carmona (Spain, Real Madrid)
7. Alexandra Popp (Germany, Wolfsburg)
8. Patricia Guijarro (Spain, Barcelona)
9. Linda Caicedo (Colombia, Real Madrid)
10. Rachel Daly (England, Aston Villa)

KanyiDaily also reported that Nigerian music star, Rema delivered a mesmerizing performance at the 2023 Ballon d’Or event held in Paris on Monday night.