Leo Messi is one of the best footballers in history, but after winning his eighth Ballon d'Or, he has become a living legend of this sport. Messi closed all his pending accounts after lifting the 2022 World Cup, and, at 36 years of age, the Argentine has once again been considered the best footballer of the year 2023.
His eight golden balls place him as the most awarded player on the planet, and, as if it were a tribute in sporting life, he says goodbye to elite football, being recognized as an infinite player Today in Memories of Football, we will review the golden stage of the GOAT of football. These are the best moments of Leo Messi's eight Ballon d'Ors.
Ballon d'Or 2009
Lionel Messi Cuccitini debuted with FC Barcelona in 2004 and became a star with great goals. Rijkaard made him a star, but with the arrival of Guardiola La Pulga, he became Legend.
Already with the "10" on his back, Leo left his muscle injuries behind, and in the 2008-2009 season, he exploded as an insatiable scorer. Guardiola's Barça it was the best team on the planet, and after winning the League and the Copa del Rey, Messi lifted the Champions League, proclaiming himself the emperor of football. The final was played at the Olympic Stadium in Rome and pitted him against Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo. Etoo opened the scoring in the first half, and the Argentine sealed the final, scoring the final 2-0 with an excellent header.
The culés won the first Triplet in their history and closed a magical 2009 by winning the European Super Cup, the Spanish Super Cup, and the Club World Cup. Messi finished 2009, scoring the winning goal against Estudiantes de La Plata, and Barça became the first team in the world to win the Sextet.
The Argentine scored 38 in 51 games and left exhibitions in Spain and Europe that made him the best player in the world. At 22 years old, Messi received his first Ballon d'Or and began an endless love story with the golden trophy.
Ballon d'Or 2010
The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Spanish league, stirred up the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona and fueled the duel to be the best player in the world. However, Barça remained unstoppable, and Messi continued to grow as a footballer.
His scoring figures continued to increase and, although he could not retain the Champions League title, he was once again decisive, lifting 4 trophies and being the top scorer in Spain and Europe, with 47 goals in 53 games.
The World Cup in South Africa was a disappointment for Messi, who in the 450 minutes he played could only complete one assist. The title won by Spain suggested that the trophy would be Xavi or Iniesta, or even for the Dutchman Wesley Sneijder, but the votes collected by FIFA and France Football surprised everyone by awarding the Argentine with his second Ballon d'Or.
The Barça youth team took the podium, and Messi became the representative of a style of play that the world was falling in love with.
Ballon d'Or 2011
In 2010-2011, Messi once again improved his numbers and left performances to remember in the League and the Champions League. The Argentine seemed unstoppable for all his rivals and became the main scourge of the Mourinho's Real Madrid. After the painful December 5-0, 2010, Madridistas and culés played for the 3 titles in 4 Frenetic Classics, where Barça emerged victorious with a decisive Messi
The tension between both teams was unsustainable, and Messi ended up deciding a controversial tie in the Champions League semi-finals. The “10” scored two goals in the first leg with the Bernabéu and Barça qualified for the Wembley final. Guardiola's men had an exhibition against United, but, once again, it was Messi who led the Barça victory with an unstoppable whiplash.
The culé star finished the season with 53 goals in 56 games, won another Champions League with Barça and confirmed his hegemony as King of football by raising his third consecutive Ball d'Or
Ballon d'Or 2012
In 2012, Leo continued «on fire» and he had an unrepeatable year in which he broke all records. Messi's goals continued to fall into the account of the Barça emblem, which ended the season winning its second Pichichi Prize with 50 goals in 37 games.
The Argentine was also the top scorer in the Champions League with 14 goals and starred in one unforgettable night where he scored 5 goals against Bayer Leverkusen. Barça seemed on track to repeat the European title but fell to Chelsea in an unfortunate tie in which the "Flea" sent a penalty against the crossbar.
Messi's 50 goals did not serve to retain the League title either, but they did serve to say goodbye to Guardiola with the Cup title. 2012 was not the best trophy year for Barça, but Leo completed the best numbers of his entire career. At the age of 24, Messi became the top scorer in Barcelona's history, finishing the season with 73 goals and completing a memorable year in which he celebrated 91 goals in 69 games.
The Argentine won all individual recognitions, including his second Golden Boot and his fourth Ballon d'Or, becoming the most awarded footballer in history and the only one to receive the trophy on 4 consecutive occasions.
Ballon d'Or 2015 (The MSN)
After a 2013 full of physical problems and a 2014 absence of titles, Messi had to get up from the blow suffered in the World Cup in Brazil. Argentina lost the World Cup final against Germany, and Leo started the following year wanting to vindicate himself. Barcelona trusted Luis Enrique as the new coach and reinforced its forward line with him signing of Luis Suárez, forming one of the best tridents in history, the MSN.
The trio of aces scored a total of 122 goals in the season and had several unforgettable performances that earned them a new treble in the League, Copa del Rey and Champions League Messi stood out by scoring 58 goals in 27 games and became the top scorer of all time in the League. The Argentine finished 2015 winning 5 titles and ended the year winning his Fifth Ballon d'Or.
Ballon d'Or 2019
It seemed that Messi was going to mark an era, but despite his stratospheric numbers of goals and assists, the great titles eluded him. With Argentina, he had no luck in the finals, and with Barça he began to suffer several European disasters. Cristiano Ronaldo managed to equal him in the Ballon d'Or honors, and it was not until 2019, when Messi recovered his golden scepter.
That season, Messi assumed the captaincy of Barça, scoring 51 goals in 50 games and winning for the third consecutive year the Golden Boot, the sixth of his entire career. The culés won the League and headed to the Champions League final after a recital by Messi against Liverpool, but despite the Argentine's two goals and the 3-0 in the first leg, the English ended up coming back in the "Miracle of Anfield".
After the shock suffered in England, Barça also lost the Copa del Rey final, but Messi was once again crowned the best footballer of the season. The Argentine won Virgil van Dijk in the voting and received the sixth Ballon d'Or of his career to once again lead the French trophy record.
Ballon d'Or 2021 (Copa América)
The 20-21 season was Messi's last at Barcelona, who, due to his financial problems, could not fulfill the renewal he had promised him. The Argentine said goodbye by winning another Copa del Rey and scoring 47 goals for the Catalan club, but his great milestone was winning the Copa América with Argentina
His 4 goals and 5 assists were decisive in lifting the trophy, and despite the incomprehension of many, he surpassed Robert Lewandowski in the Ballon d'Or votes. Messi conquered his Seventh golden ball, and 12 years after the first (2009), he established himself as the most awarded footballer in history.
Ballon d'Or 2023 (The World Cup)
After a discreet season at Paris Saint Germain, Messi focused his efforts on winning the Qatar World Cup with Argentina. The Albiceleste team began the tournament with an unexpected defeat against Saudi Arabia, although they managed to overcome Messi leading their country. The Argentine scored 7 goals and gave away 3 assists on Argentina's path to the title, leaving plays and moments for the history of the World Cups.
In the final against France, Messi had to deal with a huge Mbappé, but thanks to his two goals and Dibu MartÃnez's saves, Argentina embroidered its third star on its shirt. Lionel Messi became the first player to win two World Cup Ballon d'Ors and put the finishing touch to his career by lifting the desired World Cup.
The Argentine arrived in Paris as the new World Champion, and although PSG once again disappointed in the Champions League, Messi managed to win his second French league. La Pulga decided that his time in Europe had ended, so he announced his departure to the MLS and signed for Inter Miami.
His arrival in the United States was a revolution and after completing the year with 39 goals and 28 assists, he received the eighth Ballon d'Or of his career, signing an unparalleled career that places him as the best footballer in history.