Lionel Messi's Eighth Ballon d'Or Win: A Historic Achievement

Lionel Messi secured a historic eighth Ballon d'Or, making him the first MLS-based player to achieve this honor.

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Messi's triumph was primarily attributed to his stellar performance in leading Argentina to World Cup victory in Qatar.

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Erling Haaland, the Manchester City striker, earned second place in the Ballon d'Or voting and was awarded the Gerd Muller Trophy for the best striker of the year.

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Aitana Bonmatí, the Barcelona and Spain midfielder, claimed the Ballon d'Or Féminin after a record-breaking year in both club and international competitions.

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Emiliano Martinez, Messi's Argentina teammate, received the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper, while Jude Bellingham was awarded the Kopa Trophy as the world's top player under 21.

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Messi paid tribute to Diego Maradona on his birthday during his acceptance speech, honoring the late football legend.

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Messi's eight Ballon d'Or victories set a new record, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo's five wins and other three-time winners like Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, and Marco van Basten.

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Messi's latest Ballon d'Or was influenced by his exceptional performance as Argentina's captain in the 2022 World Cup, where he played a pivotal role in their victory.

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