The 2023 Ballon d'Or was awarded to Lionel Messi on October 30, 2023, at a ceremony in Paris, France. It was Messi's record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or award and his first since 2019.
Messi won the award after leading Argentina to the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. He was also named the Golden Ball winner at the tournament, as the best player overall.
Messi finished ahead of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé in the Ballon d'Or voting.
Messi's victory was widely celebrated, with many people calling him the greatest footballer of all time.
In addition to the Ballon d'Or, Messi also won the Ballon d'Or Féminin award for the best women's footballer in the world. The award went to Aitana Bonmatí, a midfielder for Barcelona and Spain. Bonmatí was named the Golden Ball winner at the Women's European Championship in 2022.
The 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony was a star-studded event, with many of the world's best footballers in attendance. It was a night to celebrate the best players in the world, and Messi was the deserving winner of the top prize.
