Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has claimed his eighth Ballon d'Or award, surpassing all other contenders in the 67th edition of the prestigious football accolade. Widely hailed as the "Greatest of All Time," Messi now holds the world record for the most Ballon d'Or titles by a single player.
In a closely watched competition, Messi triumphed over Manchester City's Erling Haaland, who, in his own right, secured the Gerd Müller award for his remarkable performance during the previous season. Furthermore, Manchester City was declared the men's club of the year, marking their second consecutive win.
Nigeria's Victor Osimhen made history by clinching the eighth spot in the rankings, a milestone for Nigerian footballers in Ballon d'Or history. This recognition comes as a reward for Osimhen's pivotal role in leading Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years during the previous season.
Jude Bellingham, who secured the 18th spot in the top 30 players' list, received the 2023 Kopa Trophy, signifying him as the best under-21 football talent in the world. Bellingham has impressed since his transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid last summer.
Teammate Vinicius Jr. claimed the 6th position and was honored with the Socrates award. Meanwhile, Harry Kane ranked 19th following his move from Tottenham to Bayern Munich, and Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana secured the 23rd position. Arsenal star Bukayo Saka occupied the number 24 spot.
In women's football, FC Barcelona Femeni was celebrated as the best club of the year, while Aitana Bonmati was bestowed with the 2023 Women's Ballon d'Or award, highlighting her outstanding contributions to the sport.
