🟡 Lionel Messi is your 22/23 Ballon d'Or winner!
Let's take a look at how the story unfolded 👇
[THREAD]
#BallonDor
Let's take a look at how the story unfolded 👇
[THREAD]
#BallonDor
Messi immediately set the tone for his 2022/23 season, playing a starring role in PSG's French Super Cup victory over Nantes.
Messi scored and scooped the MVP award for the match 🌟
Messi scored and scooped the MVP award for the match 🌟
He then followed this up with 2 goals and an assist in his opening Ligue 1 match, receiving a 10/10 WhoScored rating!
After a difficult first season in France, it was clear we were watching a happier and more settled Messi this time around as he matched his 21/22 Ligue 1 goal tally by September, by which point he'd scored 6 goals and provided 8 assists.
All in all, before the season broke in November for the World Cup, Messi notched 12 goals and 14 assists for PSG in 19 matches, and was rated the best player in over half his matches.
👕 19 Games
⚽ 12 Goals
🅰️ 14 Assists
📈 8.51 Avg Rating
🌟 10 MOTMs
17W - 2D - 0L
👕 19 Games
⚽ 12 Goals
🅰️ 14 Assists
📈 8.51 Avg Rating
🌟 10 MOTMs
17W - 2D - 0L
These totals included 4 goals and 4 assists in 5 games in the UEFA Champions League.
👕 5 Games
⚽ 4 Goals
🅰️ 4 Assists
📈 8.24 Avg Rating
🌟 3 MOTMs
4W - 1D - 0L
👕 5 Games
⚽ 4 Goals
🅰️ 4 Assists
📈 8.24 Avg Rating
🌟 3 MOTMs
4W - 1D - 0L
In this first half of the season, all of the PSG front three were in scintillating form, and the feeling at the time was that a World Cup triumph for either one of them would likely make them the front-runner for the Ballon d'Or.
Onto Qatar then, where expectations were high for Argentina who went into the competition on the back of a 36 game unbeaten run, just one away from the world record.
Messi got his World Cup off to a great start when he put Argentina ahead from the spot, before disaster struck.
Messi got his World Cup off to a great start when he put Argentina ahead from the spot, before disaster struck.
Unbelievably, Argentina lost their opening match to one of the competition's weakest sides, Saudi Arabia, also losing their unbeaten record in the process.
A must-win match against Mexico followed, in which Argentina played a cagey 60 minutes before everything changed.
A must-win match against Mexico followed, in which Argentina played a cagey 60 minutes before everything changed.
With an unfathomable early exit looking more likely by the minute, Messi struck low and hard from outside the box to give Argentina the lead!
With the context of what followed, this was undoubtedly one of the most important strikes of Messi's career.
With the context of what followed, this was undoubtedly one of the most important strikes of Messi's career.
This was one of several iconic moments Messi produced throughout the tournament, as he hauled Argentina to World Cup glory.
💥 Crucial strike vs MEX
🎯 Throughball assist vs NED
✨ Solo dribble assist vs CRO
🏆 Final brace vs FRA
x.com
💥 Crucial strike vs MEX
🎯 Throughball assist vs NED
✨ Solo dribble assist vs CRO
🏆 Final brace vs FRA
x.com
Messi racked up 7 goals and 3 assists, and was the highest rated player in the tournament, picking up a record 5 POTM awards.
👕 7 Games
⚽ 7 Goals (4 pens)
🅰️ 3 Assists
📈 8.25 Avg Rating
🌟 5 MOTMs
👕 7 Games
⚽ 7 Goals (4 pens)
🅰️ 3 Assists
📈 8.25 Avg Rating
🌟 5 MOTMs
Messi just missed out on the Golden Boot award, with Mbappe's 118th minute penalty snatching it from his grasp.
But he did win an unprecedented 2nd Golden Ball award for player of the tournament!
But he did win an unprecedented 2nd Golden Ball award for player of the tournament!
It was truly an all time great campaign, in which Messi broke a never-ending list of records...
At this stage, Messi was obviously clear favourite for the Ballon d'Or, but Mbappe also shone in Qatar, winning the golden boot and just missing out on the trophy.
Messi's club team mate was the main threat as we moved into the second half of the season.
Messi's club team mate was the main threat as we moved into the second half of the season.
However, there was a certain absentee from the World Cup who despite not getting the chance to shine in Qatar, also had an exceptional start to the season.
Erling Haaland was averaging over a goal a game for Man City and was also well placed to challenge for the Ballon d'Or.
Erling Haaland was averaging over a goal a game for Man City and was also well placed to challenge for the Ballon d'Or.
The second half of PSG's season was quite a contrast to their flawless start, with several losses and early exits from the Champions League and Coupe de France.
While Mbappe and Messi put in some strong showings, they didn't hit the heights they did earlier in the season.
While Mbappe and Messi put in some strong showings, they didn't hit the heights they did earlier in the season.
PSG just won the league title by 1 point, but the Last 16 Champions League exit effectively ended Mbappe's Ballon d'Or challenge.
Erling Haaland though was not slowing down and was closing the gap on Messi as Man City reached the final stages of every major competition.
Erling Haaland though was not slowing down and was closing the gap on Messi as Man City reached the final stages of every major competition.
The feeling after the World Cup was that only a treble win would allow Haaland to pose a serious challenge, and that's exactly what Manchester City delivered!
Haaland also broke the long-standing Premier League goals record, scoring 36 goals in 35 league games!
Haaland also broke the long-standing Premier League goals record, scoring 36 goals in 35 league games!
However, it ultimately wasn't enough. It was always going to be tough to overcome an all time great World Cup campaign backed up by a good club season. It's testament to Haaland that he came as close as he did.
And he may well have nicked it if his goalscoring form didn't slow down towards the end of the season, and if he had some bigger performances in the final UCL stages.
Another factor that could have swayed voters was Messi's explosive start to life at Inter Miami, despite not being considered as the 22/23 season by France Football.
Haaland can count himself unlucky, but alas there can only be one winner.
And that winner is Lionel Messi... for the eighth time!
And that winner is Lionel Messi... for the eighth time!
Congratulations are still in order for Erling Haaland though, who has of course scooped the Gerd Muller trophy for being the top goalscorer last season!
Let's finish with the extensive highlights of Lionel Messi's Ballon d'Or winning 2022/23 campaign ✨
Loading suggestions...