Yeshchenko: “There can’t even be any doubt about Messi’s Ballon d’Or. World champion!”

Former Spartak defender Andrei Eshchenko said that Argentinean Lionel Messi absolutely deserved to win the eighth Ballon d’Or in his career.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony took place on Monday in Paris. The award for the eighth time in his career was received by the 36-year-old forward of the Argentina national team and Inter Miami, Lionel Messi. Following the voting results was Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who won the Gerd Müller Trophy.

— There can’t even be any doubt about Messi’s Ballon d’Or. World champion! Haaland is good, but gold at the World Championships is a high reward. If you choose from those who are still without the Ballon d’Or, but may soon receive it, then you can name Bellingham, the same Haaland. Mbappe can do it too, but if he moves somewhere from PSG,” the Championship quotes Eshchenko.

Messi has previously won the Ballon d’Or in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021. The closest pursuer is the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, who has five such trophies.

Together with the Argentina national team, Messi won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.