Lionel Messi snubs eighth Ballon d’Or for World Cup win, says ‘nothing happens’ even if he fails to win it

Messi might snatch the eighth Ballon d'Or from the grasp of the youngsters.

Lionel Messi snubs eighth Ballon d’Or for World Cup win, says ‘nothing happens’ even if he fails to win it

(L) Messi and (R) Haaland. (Source: Wefootballfans)

Lionel Messi, seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, recently said he isn’t concerned with winning another Ballon d’Or. He believes he has already achieved what he wanted in football. Following his statements, the Argentine great was nominated for the UEFA Men’s Player Of The Year on Thursday. This also reverberates his belief in passing the baton to the next generation of football. His long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, is far from winning this year’s prestigious award.

Lionel Messi is in the race with Manchester City Striker Erling Haaland and former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe. As quoted by Tyc Sports in a press conference organized by his current club Inter Miami, Messi said, “The Ballon d’Or is an important award, the most beautiful on an individual level, but I never gave it importance. The most important thing was always the collective prizes.”

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Messi last won his seventh Ballon d’Or playing for PSG and is in the race for the current one. Following his glorious campaign at the World Cup in Qatar, where his performance even at 36 caught the global eye. He was declared the front-runner for the award once again by fans and pundits. After winning the World Cup, Messi has appeared relatively calm in his approach to his professional career. He accepts that it was the missing piece in his puzzle, and he is content now.

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The Norwegian Viking scored 52 goals in his debut season with Manchester City. Many fans even argued that he had played the best debut season ever seen in football history. Rightly so, the player and team won a historic treble. With him winning multiple golden boots and breaking goal-scoring records. While Mbappe’s only highlight remains his hat trick in the WC final loss for his side; it will be exciting to see who eventually lifts the award later this year.

Related: Neymar heaps huge praise on Cristiano Ronaldo, reveals how his influence helped him to choose Al Hilal

The favorites for the Ballon d’Or 2023

This year's potential candidates for the prestigious award
This year’s potential candidates for the prestigious award (Credits: Goal)

Only a few fans would argue that winning every trophy available, except for a charity shield should pose against a player’s pursuit of the Ballon d’Or. Erling Haaland has had a monstrous season with his new club, running riot in the entire continent. From bodying defenders to chipping goalkeeper he has been breaking records, left and right. But, will all of this still be enough to dethrone the Football’s King?

Messi’s popularity with FIFA is known to everyone. Adding a World Cup to his unfathomable list of trophies only chips him further at the race to completing football. While Football Legends, like Luis Figo and Wayne Rooney, chose Haaland as the next prince of the game. Mbappe will certainly not be smiling at the news. The legends have been impressed by the striker’s innate ability to find spaces and convert, something that the modern-day strikers were lacking.

While Haaland is rejuvenating the new era of Number 9s, Vinicius Jr. also has had a stellar season displaying a strong personality even when he had to face racism. However, the award is voted by journalists all over the world and also takes into account multiple factors. The world will truly be waiting to see if football is ready to end the era of Messi and Ronaldo and venture into modern football, or will La Pulga again sweep the ceremony.

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