Lionel Messi, voted best player of the World Cup for the second time (after 2014), certainly owes his 8th trophy to his coronation in the Middle East. Author of two goals in the final, he finished second best scorer in the competition (7 goals), behind Kylian Mbappé. But at club with PSG, the Argentinian was knocked out in the round of 16 of the Champions League by Bayern.
The end of the Messi-Ronaldo era?
His young runners-up, aged 23 and 24, nevertheless had arguments. Scoring 52 goals in 53 matches in his first year in England, Haaland gave Manchester City his first Champions League, but also the Premier League and the FA Cup to complete a sparkling treble. Vice-world champion with France, Mbappé finished top scorer in the competition (8), including a hat-trick in the final. Champions of France with PSG, Mbappé like Messi, however, failed in the Champions League.
But it was the Dantesque final of the World Cup, on December 18 at the Lusail stadium, and its outcome (3-3, 4-2 on the tabs) which made the difference for the “Pulga”, which improved its record with now three more Ballon d’Ors than Cristiano Ronaldo (5). Since 2008 (first trophy for Ronaldo) and 2009 (first for Messi), the two ogres of world football have cannibalized the France Football award: only Luka Modric in 2018 and Benzema last year collected the crumbs.
Time will tell if this umpteenth individual reward is the last for the man who now plays in MLS at Inter Miami, in a much less competitive championship. Still, Rosario’s child is still hungry: Messi (178 caps, 106 goals) plans to participate in the Copa America-2024. His swan song. Unless he pushes until the 2026 World Cup…
Aitana Bonmati: “I have no words”
Aitana Bonmati this Monday October 30, 2023 in Paris. — © MOHAMMED BADRA / keystone-sda.ch
The Spaniard Aitana Bonmati was crowned her first Ballon d’Or. The 25-year-old midfielder succeeds her national and Barça teammate Alexia Putellas, a double winner. At the World Cup this summer as in the Champions League, which she won for the first time in 2021, the midfielder was voted best player, thanks in particular to five goals in C1 and three at the World Cup. Dubbed by Pep Guardiola, who nicknamed her “the Iniesta of women’s football”, the native of Vilanova i la Geltru, near Barcelona, has also won the last four Spanish championships.
“I have no words,” she declared on stage at the Châtelet theater when she was reminded of this comparison coming from the coach of Manchester City and formerly of the great Barça, the team she admired as a child.
The one who grew up admiring FC Barcelona and the great Spain at the turn of the 2010s has largely contributed in recent years to making the women’s section of her club a major one in Europe. And his dream came true. “We must continue to fight together for a fairer and more equal world,” also declared the woman who has been involved in the past in helping refugees.
Aitana Bonmati beat Australian Sam Kerr (Chelsea) and her Spanish compatriot Salma Paralluelo (FC Barcelona) on the podium for this women’s Golden Ball.
Bellingham, best young
Paying tribute to the glories of the past Pelé, Luis Suarez and Bobby Charlton, who passed away in recent months, the ceremony also profiled the future through the Englishman Jude Bellingham, 20 years old, elected best young person of the year (Kopa Trophy) two days after his double with Real Madrid, his new club, during the Clasico in Barcelona (2-1).
2023-10-30 23:19:51
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