Argentine forward Lionel Messi, attached to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, became the first active MLS player to receive football’s Ballon d’Or, awarded by France Football.
The ceremony unfolded at a renowned Paris venue, where the ceremony’s atmosphere highlighted Messi’s enduring impact on the sport.
This trophy marks the eighth time the Argentine captain has claimed the Ballon d’Or, a record unbroken by any other player. Messi previously earned the prize in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023.
Messi helped Argentina secure a World Cup title in late 2022. The star’s move to Inter Miami came in the summer of 2023 after two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain. In the early part of his MLS tenure, Messi tallied goals and assists that underscored his continued influence on American soccer.
In a separate arc, Karim Benzema secured the Ballon d’Or in the previous year, continuing a tradition of celebrated Ballon d’Or winners.
Earlier remarks in the ceremony referenced another legendary winner recognized as the best goalkeeper of the year, named after Lev Yashin. (Attribution: France Football)