The Ballon d’Or 2023 awards ceremony was held on Monday night at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, where Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati were crowned as the best male and female footballers in the world. The Inter Miami duo made history as the first pair of teammates to win the prestigious individual prizes in the same year.
Messi claims record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or
Lionel Messi, who joined Inter Miami from Barcelona in a sensational transfer in August 2023, beat Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe to win his eighth Ballon d’Or, extending his own record as the most decorated player in the history of the award. The Argentine star scored 54 goals and provided 21 assists in 52 games for both clubs in the 2022-23 season, leading Inter Miami to their first MLS Cup title and helping Argentina win the Copa America 2023.
Messi, who received the trophy from former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, thanked his teammates, coaches, family and fans for their support and said he was honored to win the award again. He also praised Haaland and Mbappe, who finished second and third respectively, as “incredible players” and said he hoped to face them in the future.
“I’m very happy and grateful to receive this award once again. It’s a huge privilege and a great responsibility to be considered the best in the world. I want to thank everyone who voted for me, my teammates at Inter Miami and Barcelona, my coaches, my family, my friends and all the people who support me every day. This is also for them,” Messi said.
“I also want to congratulate Erling and Kylian, who are incredible players and have had amazing seasons. They are the future of football and I’m sure they will keep breaking records and winning trophies. I hope to play against them soon, maybe in the World Cup next year. It would be a great challenge for me and for everyone who loves this sport.”
Bonmati wins first Ballon d’Or Feminin
Aitana Bonmati, who followed Messi from Barcelona to Inter Miami in September 2023, became the first Spanish woman to win the Ballon d’Or Feminin, beating Chelsea’s Pernille Harder and Lyon’s Ada Hegerberg to the accolade. The midfielder scored 28 goals and provided 18 assists in 41 games for both clubs in the 2022-23 season, helping Inter Miami win their first NWSL Shield and Barcelona win their second consecutive UEFA Women’s Champions League title.
Bonmati, who received the trophy from former France captain Zinedine Zidane, dedicated her award to her teammates, coaches, family and fans and said she was proud to represent her country and her club. She also acknowledged Harder and Hegerberg, who finished second and third respectively, as “fantastic players” and said she was inspired by them.
“I’m very happy and emotional to receive this award. It’s a dream come true for me. I want to thank everyone who voted for me, my teammates at Inter Miami and Barcelona, my coaches, my family, my friends and all the people who support me every day. This is also for them,” Bonmati said.
“I also want to dedicate this award to all the girls who play football in Spain and around the world. You are the future of this sport and you can achieve anything you want if you work hard and believe in yourself. I’m very proud to represent my country and my club on this stage.”
“I also want to congratulate Pernille and Ada, who are fantastic players and have had amazing seasons. They are an inspiration for me and for many other players. They have shown that women’s football is growing every day and deserves more recognition and respect.”
Other awards
In addition to the main awards, France Football also announced the winners of other categories, such as:
- The Kopa Trophy for the best Under-21 player: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich/Germany)
- The Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa/Argentina)
- The Socrates Award for social activism: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United/England)
- The Gerd Müller Trophy for the best goalscorer: Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona/Poland)
- The Club of the Year award: Inter Miami (USA)
The ceremony also featured a tribute to former Brazil legend Pele, who turned 83 in October 2023, with a video message from former France star Thierry Henry.
The Ballon d’Or awards are organized by France Football magazine since 1956 and are voted by a panel of journalists from around the world.
