Lionel Messi, Argentina forward during the week, entered the history books as the greatest footballer, having won the Ballon d’Or for a record-extending eighth time. while Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen also entered the books as the first Nigerian to have finished among the first ten players in the world. Victor Osimhen finished eighth. Midfielder Aitana Bonmati claimed the Women’s Ballon d’Or.

Messi, now at Inter Miami, led his country to World Cup glory last year as he lifted the trophy for the first time and won the Golden Ball award for the best player of the tournament in Qatar.

The 36-year-old reclaimed the Ballon d’Or from France’s Karim Benzema to add to his wins in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.

The former Barcelona forward’s victory increases his lead over five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo. The 38-year-old Portugal international, who plays for Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, was not on the shortlist for the first time since 2003.

Messi left European football at the end of last season as he moved from Paris Saint-Germain, where he won the Ligue 1 title in both seasons, to join MLS team Inter Miami.

Messi was presented with the award by David Beckham, owner of Inter Miami and runner-up in the 1999 Ballon d’Or, and the Argentine admitted this will be his last Ballon d’Or win.

He said: “I couldn’t imagine having the career that I’ve had.

“Everything that I’ve achieved. The fortune I’ve had playing for the best team in the world, the best team in history. It’s nice to win these individual trophies. To win the Copa America and then the World Cup, to get it done is amazing.

“Being world champion was fantastic. But the truth is I’ve never really got used to receiving awards and being on the stage like this.

“Slowly I have got used to it a bit more since winning it for the first time in 2009. I think today is the last time I will win it, so it feels calmer and I will enjoy it in a different way.

“I’m proud of the career I’ve had. I’ve enjoyed football all my life and soon I’ll enjoy it from the other side.

“I don’t know for how much longer I’ll play but I plan to enjoy it.

“I can’t put a number on it as things can change very quickly from day to day in football. But I know that day is getting closer and closer.”

Messi claimed the 2023 Ballon d’Or in Paris ahead of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who scored 52 goals last season to help City land the treble, with PSG and France forward Kylian Mbappe, just the second man to score a World Cup hat-trick, finishing third.

Nigeria Victor Osimhen finished the eighth position. He became the first Nigerian to finished within the first ten. 

Victor began his senior career in Germany at VfL Wolfsburg in 2017. Following a season and a half at the club, he moved to Belgian side Charleroi on loan in 2018–19, before moving to France at Lille. He made his European football debut with the French club during the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League. In 2020, Osimhen transferred to Serie A club Napoli for a club-record fee of €70 million. He won the Serie A Best Young Player award in the 2021–22 season and, in the following season, helped the club win their first Serie A title in 33 years. He is the highest goalscoring African in the Serie A and currently holds the record for the most goals scored by an African in a single season.

Osimhen won the Golden Boot award at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which Nigeria won. He made his senior international debut in June 2017 and played at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. He is currently the fourth all-time highest goalscorer of the Nigeria national team. On 29 May 2023, Osimhen was made a Member of the Federal Republic by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Haaland did not leave the Ballon d’Or ceremony empty-handed after landing the Gerd Muller Trophy for his record-breaking goal haul last season.

Meanwhile, his team Man City were named the men’s club of the year for a second year running after winning the Treble.

Pep Guardiola’s side also had five players in the Ballon d’Or top 10 as Kevin De Bruyne finished fourth while Rodri came fifth, Julian Alvarez – also a team-mate of Messi at international level – was seventh, and Bernardo Silva was ninth.

Barcelona midfielder Bonmati won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the first time as she helped Spain to maiden World Cup glory in August and won a league and Champions League double at club level.

Bonmati won the Golden Ball for the best player of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, while she was recently named UEFA Women’s Player of the Year.

The 25-year-old became the second Spanish player to win the Women’s Ballon d’Or after Barcelona compatriot Alexia Putellas was awarded the prize for the last two years.

Bonmati beat Chelsea and Australia striker Sam Kerr to the award, while England and Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps finished fifth in the voting after winning the Golden Glove at the World Cup.

Fellow Lionesses Rachel Daly (10th), Millie Bright (11th) and Georgia Stanway (23rd) were among the nominees for the fifth edition of the women’s award, with Arsenal and Republic of Ireland’s Katie McCabe finishing 22nd.

Meanwhile, Bonmati’s team Barcelona won the women’s club of the year award after they won the Champions League and Spanish league title last season.

Argentina and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez won the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper in the world.

Martinez claimed the award ahead of Manchester City’s Ederson for his heroics at the World Cup last year to help his country lift the trophy.

The 31-year-old became the second Premier League goalkeeper to take home the Yashin Trophy after its inception in 2019, with the inaugural award won by Liverpool’s Alisson Becker.

Lionel Messi (Argentina, Inter Miami)
Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
Kylian Mbappe (France, PSG)
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium, Manchester City)
Rodri (Spain, Manchester City)
Vinicius Junior (Brazil, Real Madrid)
Julian Alvarez (Argentina, Manchester City)
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Napoli)
Bernardo Silva (Portugal, Manchester City)
Luka Modric (Croatia, Real Madrid)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Barcelona)
Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)
Ilkay Gundogan (Germany, Barcelona)
Emiliano Martinez (Argentina, Aston Villa)
Karim Benzema (France, Al Ittihad)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia, Napoli)
Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
Lautaro Martinez (Argentina, Inter Milan)
Antoine Griezmann (France, Atletico Madrid)
Min-Jae Kim (South Korea, Bayern Munich)
Andre Onana (Cameroon, Manchester United)
Bukayo Saka (England, Arsenal)
Josko Gvardiol (Croatia, Manchester City)
Jamal Musiala (Germany, Bayern Munich)
Nicolo Barella (Italy, Inter Milan)
=28. Martin Odegaard (Norway, Arsenal)
=28. Randal Kolo Muani (France, PSG)
Ruben Dias (Portugal, Manchester City)
2023 Women’s Ballon d’Or – Top 10

Aitana Bonmati (Spain, Barcelona)
Sam Kerr (Australia, Chelsea)
Salma Paralluelo (Spain, Barcelona)
Fridolina Rolfo (Sweden, Barcelona)
Mary Earps (England, Manchester United)
Olga Carmona (Spain, Real Madrid)
Alexandra Popp (Germany, Wolfsburg)
Patricia Guijarro (Spain, Barcelona)
Linda Caicedo (Colombia, Real Madrid)
Rachel Daly (England, Aston Villa)