Soccer is a team game with trophies remaining the epitome of judgment for a player’s success. On the other hand, some fans evaluate players on their performances. Think of Zlatan Ibrahimovic as an example. He rarely won anything with his national team, Sweden, but it also relies on the quality of playing eleven. Many players perform at the individual level and win the prestigious Ballon d’Or trophy as an acknowledgment of their influence during the season. In the latest reports, Lionel Messi is about to win his eighth Ballon d’Or trophy. 

But this time, there are queries regarding whether he actually merited it. He won seven Ballon d’Or trophies and led the way for the most won prizes category. Cristiano Ronaldo ranks second with five Ballon d’Or trophies. Whereas this year, the conclusion of the award gave way because of the World Cup. Yet, the doubts surrounding Messi’s latest victory offer food for thought! Did he deserve it? We don’t think so!

Did Lionel Messi deserve to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or?

Although the ceremony is yet to commence, reports emerged of the Argentine winning the individual accolade for a record-breaking 8th time. Moreover, winning his eighth Ballon d’Or would cement his legacy as the GOAT of the game! So, let’s see why he deserves to win the grand prize!

Argentina ended their 36-year-old wait of winning the World Cup as they clinched the trophy in Qatar. To some, the 2022 World Cup final became the pinnacle of all soccer matches, and the France vs Argentina game concreted the thoughts of soccer being the world’s official go-to sport!

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With the thrills and spills along the way, Messi and Co conquered their Everest, and the rest, as they say, is history. The 36-year-old made one final push and ended the tournament with seven goals and three assists. In addition, he won the Golden Ball for the second time in his walk of life as the ribbons came flying down! The accolades don’t stop there!

He won the Ligue 1 and French Super Cup with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, bolstering his chances of claiming the Ballon d’Or. For a player to have a memorable season like this, one must say, Messi captured the hearts and minds of the fans. With the French league’s prominence going down the ladder in the reputation charts, fans argue how winning the World Cup elevated his chances. On the other hand, other players probably have a say in this year’s voting.

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Enter the Norwegian Machine and the French Bugatti!

With the era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo nearing the end, the soccer evolution continues to unravel its box of surprises. Various players come up to take up the mantle. Enter Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland! These two superstars are the torchbearers of the aforementioned legendary duo because they are a cut above the rest. 

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Of course, matching Messi’s technical ability remains to be seen, but in terms of stats and accolades won, Mbappe and Haaland are right up there. Mbappe, in particular, rose to prominence in the World Cup final. With Argentina looking to fulfill their destiny, the speedy forward took the game by the scruff of its neck. At a time when France trailed 2-0, the 24-year-old took over the team and scored a hat trick to bring them back. Yet, he fell short of winning his second World Cup. Instead, he won the same trophies as Messi with PSG and the Golden Boot in the World Cup (8 goals). As for Haaland, well, prepare to be amazed!

The sensational Norwegian forward won the treble with Manchester City (English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup). It’s an achievement that requires determination, dedication, and discipline. The team consistently performed, and Haaland scored 52 goals in all competitions to lead the ship. With these two contenders in line, Messi winning the Ballon d’Or raises various questions. 

Lionel Messi remains the face of soccer!

The ever-growing storyline of the Messi-Ronaldo debate remains a narrative for all generations. Occasionally, one might think by just putting Messi on the top, the once-in-a-lifetime narrative concludes and has its fairytale ending. With some fans siding with Ronaldo and the rest siding with Messi, the World Cup for Argentina became the postage stamp for the debate- Messi, the ‘Greatest of all Time’! With 8 Ballon d’Ors and a World Cup, he is simply untouchable. 

Yet, questions come into play for the previous winners of the prestigious trophy. Why was Manuel Neuer snubbed in 2014 after Germany won the World Cup and Bayern won the league? Why was Andres Iniesta rejected for Lionel Messi in 2010, as he played for the same Barcelona that won multiple trophies? In addition to that, Spain won the World Cup that year. The inconsistency is glaring. When it is Messi, people jump over the boat to applaud the player’s talents. People rationalize their thoughts even if Messi did not have a productive season. 

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The hypocritical comments come into play as Messi wins his next Ballon d’Or. It is inconceivable that they would bestow it upon him merely to conclude the decade-year-old debate. Winning the World Cup is iconic. Nothing beats it. Then why did Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric win instead of Manuel Neuer and Antoine Griezmann? Let us know in the comments section!