When he received his first Ballon d'Or in 2009, it became a landmark moment. Many believed it was a fluke at the time. However, time has shown that such successes are not coincidental.
As of now, Messi has eight Ballon d'Or awards, and each one represents a separate chapter in his career.
The First Step to Immortality
He won his first trophy in 2009 when Barcelona achieved a treble, including the league, cup, and Champions League. Messi scored key goals and became the most important player on the team. This was his moment of triumph, when all doubts were dispelled – before us stood a true phenomenon.
Even those who bet against Barcelona on the Mostbet site quickly realized they had no chance. When Messi is in form, the match becomes unpredictable, and opponents cannot cope with his play.
A Conveyor Belt of Records
From 2010 to 2012, he was recognized as the best player in the world three times in a row. His achievements were impressive. One season was marked by a record of 91 goals. People became so accustomed to his genius that they stopped being surprised.
At that time, debates raged over who was better – Messi or Ronaldo. This rivalry spurred both to new achievements.
Return After a Break
In 2013–2014, trophies began to go to Cristiano, and Messi slowed down a bit. But in 2015, he returned to the top. Barcelona won the treble again, and the trio of Messi – Suárez – Neymar became a symbol of attacking football.
Discussions about who was more important continue, but the fact remains: Messi added another Ballon d'Or to his collection.
Records and Doubts
In 2019, the Argentine was awarded the trophy again, although not everyone agrees with this. Barcelona was eliminated from the Champions League after a setback against Liverpool, but his personal statistics spoke for themselves – over 70 goal involvements in a season.
If you're wondering how many goals Messi has scored in his entire career, at that time it was over 700. And now that number is close to 900.
The Era of the National Team and Long-Awaited Triumph
2021 was a landmark year for Messi: he finally won the Copa América with the national team. It was not just a victory, but a kind of redemption. He surpassed Lewandowski and added a seventh Ballon d'Or to his collection.
The final chord was the World Cup in Qatar at the end of 2022, where Argentina won gold, and Messi scored in almost every playoff match. In 2023, he received his eighth trophy.
Complete List of Messi's Ballon d'Or Awards
2009–2012 – Barcelona
2015 – Barcelona
2019 – Barcelona
2021 – Barcelona / PSG
2023 – PSG / Inter Miami
Other Achievements
Sometimes awards speak louder than words. Here’s a brief list of his other records:
- Over 800 goals in official matches.
- Record for the most assists in football history.
- Four Champions League victories and ten La Liga titles.
Additionally, Messi has six Golden Boots, which confirms his status not only as a scorer but also as a conductor, an artist with the ball.
Messi's Statistics: Numbers vs. Emotions
Many wonder who has scored more goals – Messi or Ronaldo. At the time of writing, the Portuguese has a slight edge, but the difference is negligible. Ronaldo is approaching the thousand mark, while his rival is nearing 900. The Argentine plays deeper and focuses on assists.
This debate can be considered eternal and, frankly, pointless. In football, it’s not always the one with the most numbers who wins.
Not Just Numbers
Behind the statistics lies character. Many forget that Lionel grew up in a small Argentine town, Rosario, where he was diagnosed with "growth hormone deficiency." His family faced financial difficulties, but he did not give up. Today we see a legend, but once he was just a boy with a big heart in a small body.
Opinion of a Football Star
As for the potential ninth Ballon d'Or, Messi's news is not very encouraging. After receiving his eighth trophy, he stated:
"I think this is my last Ballon d'Or. I am happy to have achieved everything..."
Perhaps this is the end of an era. But it is unlikely that another player will be able to stay at the top for so long.
Football is full of moments, and Messi has given us many. He has proven that even in a world of numbers, emotions still matter.
In Conclusion:
- Messi has eight Ballon d'Or awards.
- The total number of goals exceeds 800.
- In his career, he has scored more goals than many teams have in decades.
- He has six Golden Boots.
- He remains a symbol of the football world, where talent and hard work go hand in hand.
Football, like life, is not reduced to perfect numbers. It’s about emotions. And as the old saying goes: "the game will show who is who." In Messi's case, the game has already shown everything.
