Lionel Messi’s shift in thoughts on winning another Ballon d’Or is interesting, especially now that the Argentina legend is about to collect his record-breaking eighth Ballon d’Or
Lionel Messi is set to receive his record eighth Ballon d’Or next week – but the legendary striker doesn’t seem too worried about the award.
After years of competing with rival Cristiano Ronaldo for football’s most prestigious individual honors, the 36-year-old Argentine striker’s ambitions have transcended individual awards, especially after leading Argentina to football’s most important team award .
“I’ve said many times that the Ballon d’Or is very important because of the recognition on an individual level, but I’ve never attached much importance to it, between quotes, the most important thing for me has always been the group level awards,” May West said previously. “I’ve been lucky enough to achieve everything in my career and after the World Cup I thought a lot less about the award, my biggest award was that and I was covering up my moments.
“If it arrives, great, if not, nothing happens. I’ve been lucky enough to achieve all the goals I’ve had in my career and now I have a new one at this club.”
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Ironically, Messi will win his eighth trophy, three more than second-placed Ronaldo, while his individual trophies in his career mean less. Although this was not the original idea.
In 2017, Messi, then playing for Barcelona, revealed he felt “hurt” after Ronaldo won his fifth Ballon d’Or, equaling his most in history. His stance on the prize’s importance has since undergone a 180-degree turn, which sums up his priorities.
“On the one hand, I’m happy to have five and to be the only one to do it,” Messi said at the time. “When Cristiano leveled me, I have to admit it hurt me a little bit. I was no longer alone at the top.
“But it’s logical, even though it’s fine when you’re alone with five people.”
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Messi then won his sixth and seventh trophies in 2019 and 2021 respectively, which essentially ended any conversation between him and Ronaldo.
When Messi won his seventh Ballon d’Or in 2021, the 36-year-old expressed doubts after the ceremony that he or anyone else could win another trophy to top his seven trophies.
“I don’t know if this record can be broken,” the Argentina striker said at the time. “I can just accept it, but I’m not sure it can be beaten. Seven is really impressive.”
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Now, just two years after that announcement, Messi will add another trophy to his collection next week, although fans have mixed feelings about the situation, especially after the Argentinian left PSG and signed with After signing with Major League Soccer team Inter Miami.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, still appears to be seeking to equal Messi’s Ballon d’Or total at some point, despite starting his career with Al Nasser in Saudi Arabia and ending it.
“The most golden goals in the history of football,” Ronaldo said in 2019, “I would love it and I think I deserve it. Messi is a great person and a great player, but I think after I have six , after seven, or eighth, then I will be higher than him.”