Lionel Messi, the captain of Argentina and player at Inter Miami, made history on Monday, October 30, by winning his eighth Ballon d’Or. He defeated Manchester City’s UEFA player of the year and treble winner Erling Haaland by a wide majority to win the coveted title for the eighth time in history. He also increased his lead over fierce rival Cristiano Ronaldo (5) to three. After winning his historic eighth Ballon d’Or, Lionel Messi was asked if he could return to FC Barcelona in the future. The #10 dropped a very exciting update as well.
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Potential return to FC Barcelona for Lionel Messi?
Many thought Lionel Messi could return to his former home club, FC Barcelona, after his extension at Paris-Saint-Germain was ruled out early this year. He spent his whole life at the Spanish club and only had to move due to the club’s financial issues. Messi didn’t move, though, because in July, the great football player transferred to Inter Miami, an MLS team.
When he was asked if he would be interested in moving back to FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi had an interesting answer. He said, ‘I don’t know. I really don’t know. Obviously, I would love to be able to say goodbye to the people in a different way, because I think there was a weird feeling when I left, and I think it’s not good with everything that we shared and lived, along with everything that they gave me.’
Lionel Messi continued, ‘I told the club that we shouldn’t finish in the way we have finished. I think I deserve to be able to say goodbye to those people that we have shared so much joy and sadness throughout my career at Barcelona, in my home. I love the club, I love the people of Barcelona and well, so be it. I’m delighted I could be there, obviously.’
Between 2004–05 and 2020–21, Messi played in 778 games for the Spanish club, scoring an incredible 672 goals. After a fierce battle with Kylian Mbappe and Haaland, Lionel Messi ultimately won the coveted trophy once more.
In an exciting final match against France in Qatar last year, he helped Argentina win the FIFA World Cup. Lionel Messi finished with seven goals overall. He also won the title of best player in the competition.
Does Messi consider himself the GOAT?
With five second-place finishes, Lionel Messi has now placed in the top three a record 14 times total. In the press conference, he was questioned about if he thought of himself as the greatest player in history. Leo said, ‘Well, as always, I don’t know if I’m the best, if I am or not, and it’s not something that I ask myself or that I’m interested in. But the fact that maybe in the future it will be said that I can be among the best, as they say, is a gift for me.’
Lionel Messi continued, ‘It’s something very special. Football is played by everyone, everywhere. From a very young age, every kid wants to be a footballer. They want to be a professional, and for them to tell me that I can be among the best, for me, it is an honour, a great pride, and that’s it.’
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In addition, the superstar dedicated the honor to Diego Maradona. The legend was the all-time great of Argentina and world football. He would have turned 63 on Monday. Meanwhile, Spain’s World Cup-winning star Aitana Bonmati took the women’s prize on the stage of the Chatelet Theatre in Paris.
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