Lionel Messi has given away his eighth Ballon d’Or trophy, just four months after he fended off competition from Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe to win the award.
The 36-year-old forward, who captained Argentina to a historic World Cup win in 2022, lifted the Ballon d’Or for a record-extending eighth time at a ceremony in Paris.
After scoring 21 goals and providing 20 assists for Paris Saint-Germain during the 2022/23 campaign, he was recognised for another memorable year for club and country.
Speaking on stage, he said: “Thank you very much, to share this with my national team-mates for what we were able to achieve with the national team. The entire group, the coaching staff, everyone involved.
“I’m delighted to be here once more to be able to enjoy this moment one more time.”
Now, the Inter Miami forward has donated his most recent Ballon d’Or prize to the Barcelona museum.
“Although he did not win it as a Barca footballer, the Argentine star has made the gesture of giving it up so that it can be displayed along with the other seven he has won,” according to media report. “Impossible not to miss him.”
Footage from the Barcelona museum soon emerged showing the 2023 Ballon d’Or trophy alongside the rest of Messi’s achievements, including two Golden Boot awards.
