Lionel Messi asserts that having already won seven Ballons d’Or, obtaining further Golden Balls is no longer vital to him.
- Argentine has rewritten the record books
- Greatest of all-time in the eyes of many
- Not concerned about individual accolades
WHAT HAPPENED? Throughout the course of a truly incredible career, the Argentine legend has dominated the world stage with his enduring opponent Cristiano Ronaldo. His astounding degree of consistency allowed him to be declared the top player on the globe a record-breaking seven times, rewriting history on a regular basis. Messi is thought to be in the lead when it comes to the 2023 Ballon d’Or race thanks to his success at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, when he finally added international accolades to his trophy case.
WHAT THEY SAID: Messi would, however, be happy to let somebody else collect that prestigious prize, telling Titan Sports in China when asked if such accolades are still a top priority: “Does the Ballon d’Or matter to me? No, it’s no longer important to me. I’ve always said, the individual prizes are not what matters to me, but the collective ones are the most important. The most important prize at the moment is the World Cup, the greatest prize for me.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Messi’s standing among the all-time greats has been secure for some time now, but victory with Argentina in the Middle East – which he helped to inspire before going on to collect another World Cup Golden Ball – is considered by many to have cemented his place at the very top of that list.
IN TWO PHOTOS:
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WHAT NEXT? It remains to be seen how many years at the top Messi has left in him – as he admits that it is unlikely that he will grace the 2026 World Cup – with a new adventure being taken on at club level in 2023 as he prepares to link up with MLS side Inter Miami.
