Last Updated: October 31, 2023, 08:21 IST
Lionel Messi acquired a standing ovation after profitable his eighth Ballon d’Or (AP)
Lionel Messi stated he was not fascinated by his lengthy-time period future as he sought to get pleasure from profitable the eighth Ballon d’Or.
Lionel Messi stated he shall be having fun with his eighth Ballon d’Or triumph and never be fascinated by his lengthy-time period future simply but.
Messi, 36, succeeded Karim Benzema as winner of the prize, awarded on the again of his performances final season, when he impressed Argentina to glory on the World Cup in Qatar.
“The last one I won was also thanks to what we achieved with the Argentine national team in the Copa America (in 2021), but this one is much more special because it comes after we won the World Cup,” Messi informed varied media together with AFP after accumulating his award at a ceremony in Paris.
“That is the trophy everyone wants to win the most, and it was a dream come true for me, my teammates and my country.”
He dragged Argentina to a victory in Qatar that topped his exceptional profession and allowed him to see off stiff competitors for the Ballon d’Or from Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland particularly.
Haaland got here second within the last voting, with Mbappe third and Kevin De Bruyne in fourth place.
Former Barcelona celebrity Messi scored seven occasions on the World Cup and was named the match’s greatest participant after Argentina beat France on penalties within the last in Doha.
Yet Messi, who received his first Ballon d’Or in 2009, additionally had an underwhelming last season at Paris Saint-Germain, earlier than leaving to play for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
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He performed down recommendations he may come again for one more Ballon d’Or, probably after the following World Cup in 2026, when he shall be 39.
“I am not thinking about the long-term future. I am just enjoying the day to day at the moment,” he stated.
“We have a Copa America coming up in the United States, where I am now, in which we are the holders, so I am looking forward to coming into that in good shape and then just see how I am getting on from there.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
