LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Lionel Messi asserts that after winning seven Ballons d’Or, he no longer places a high priority on capturing additional Golden Balls.
The Argentine legend has had a truly incredible career, dominating the world stage alongside his enduring nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo.
With an astonishing degree of consistency that allowed him to be declared the best player on the planet a record-breaking seven times, the history books have been changed on a regular basis.
Messi is thought to be in the lead for the 2023 Ballon d’Or after his success at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, where he finally added a worldwide prize to his trophy case.
However, when questioned if receiving such honours is still a high aim, Messi told Titan Sports in China that he would be content to let someone else receive that renowned award:
“Does the Ballon d’Or matter to me? No, it’s no longer important to me. I’ve always said, the individual prizes are not what matters to me, but the collective ones are the most important. The most important prize at the moment is the World Cup, the greatest prize for me.”
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Messi’s place among the all-time greats has been established for some time, but many believe that Argentina’s victory in the Middle East, which he helped to inspire before going on to win another World Cup Golden Ball, has solidified his position at the top of that list.
With a new club experience beginning in 2023 as he gets ready to join MLS team Inter Miami, it is unclear how many years Messi has left at the top of the game. He acknowledges that it is doubtful that he will play in the 2026 World Cup.