Lionel Messi wins eighth Ballon d’Or, Aitana Bonmatí wins Women’s Ballon d’Or: NPR

Lionel Messi added to his legacy on Monday by winning the Ballon d’Or for a record eighth time as the world’s best footballer. The women’s category award went to Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí.

Both Ballon d’Or winners were midfielders who led their countries to World Cup glory: Messi won the title with Argentina in Qatar at the end of 2022, while Bonmati also won for Spain’s women’s team in Australia last summer. got the same result.

It was Messi’s first World Cup trophy and the ultimate international title that had eluded him throughout his storied career that spanned decades.

As Messi accepted the trophy on the stage of Paris’s historic Théâtre du Châtelet, a giant banner proclaimed “Messi is Infinite”.

For the record, it seems just infinite: Messi wins his first Ballon d’Or — Football’s highest individual award — Year 2009.But in fact, he has won around 12% of all Ballon d’Or trophies since the publication of the magazine french football

The Golden Globe Awards begin 1956.

Messi, 36, beats Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and striker Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe finished second and third in the voting.

After the win, Messi praised his country for delivering Argentina their long-awaited World Cup title. He also paid tribute to his compatriot and legendary player Diego Maradona, who died in 2020.

“It’s his birthday today, so I think there’s no better place to wish him a happy birthday,” Messi said, referring to the awards ceremony and the auditorium packed with people as passionate about the sport as Maradona. Sporting elite football players.

Messi’s award was announced by David Beckham, co-owner of Messi’s current club Inter Miami. Messi is now the first active player in Major League Soccer to win the prestigious trophy.

Bonmati, 25, has excelled in all areas over the past 12 months, winning the Ballon d’Or. At club level, she led FC Barcelona to national and UEFA Champions League titles before helping Spain win its first-ever World Cup title. In the process, she won the Ballon d’Or as the best player at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Bonmati received the trophy from her compatriot Alexia Putras, who has won the past two Ballon d’Ors.

In her acceptance speech, Bonmati praised the other nominees and spoke to the broader context in which women’s teams and leagues are fighting for better treatment.

“As role models, we have a responsibility on and off the court. We should be more than athletes,” she said. “Continue to lead by example and continue to work together for a better, peaceful and equal world. Thank you.”

Spain’s women’s team won this year’s World Cup after overcoming internal strife: Players were involved in a dispute with the national federation over unequal conditions and other issues, then faced a new scandal when then-RFEF president Luis Rubiales kissed One player talked about it after the World Cup final.

On the same day that Bonmati won the Ballon d’Or, Rubiales was banned for three years by FIFA. Spanish authorities are also pursuing criminal charges against him.