He did it again. On a chilly night at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Lionel Messi hoisted his eighth Golden Ball into the air. Eight. Let that sink in for a second. Some legendary players spend their entire careers chasing just one, yet here was a 36-year-old making it look like a routine Tuesday.
The 2023 Ballon d'Or wasn't just another trophy for the cabinet. It was a line in the sand. It was the moment the "Greatest of All Time" debate basically got a definitive answer for most of the footballing world. But man, did it stir up some feelings. Depending on who you talk to, this win was either the most deserved coronation in sports history or a total snub of the new guard.
Honestly, the room was split. You had Erling Haaland sitting there after scoring 52 goals in a single season and winning a Treble with Manchester City. If you can’t win the Ballon d'Or after doing that, when can you? But then, there’s the World Cup.
The World Cup Weight
Let's be real: the 2023 Ballon d'Or was decided in December 2022. Even though the ceremony happened much later, the seven games Messi played in Qatar outweighed everything else. FIFA changed the rules recently so the award is based on the season, not the calendar year, which meant the 2022 World Cup fell squarely into the 2022-23 evaluation period.
Messi’s stats in Qatar were kind of ridiculous. Seven goals. Three assists. He scored in the group stage, the round of 16, the quarter-final, the semi-final, and twice in the final. Nobody had ever done that in the modern format.
Critics will point to the penalties. Sure, Argentina got a few. But watch that final against France again. The way he controlled the tempo, the outside-of-the-boot passes, the pure desperation to drag his country to the one trophy that had eluded him for two decades. It was cinematic. It felt like destiny. And in the world of football journalism—where the voters are 100 journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations—narrative is king.
Erling Haaland and the Goal-Scoring Problem
If you’re Erling Haaland, you’ve gotta be wondering what more you could have done. The guy was a literal cheat code in the Premier League. He broke the single-season scoring record. He won the Champions League. He won the FA Cup.
He didn't just play well; he changed how Manchester City functioned.
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But here is the nuance people miss. While Haaland was clinical, his impact on a game is often limited to his touches in the box. He’s a finisher. Messi, even at 36 and playing for PSG (and later Inter Miami during the tail end of the eligibility period), was still a playmaker, a dribbler, and the heartbeat of his team.
The voting gap wasn't as huge as you'd think, but it was clear enough. Messi finished with 462 points. Haaland had 357. Kylian Mbappé was further back with 270. It shows that while goals are great, the "wow factor" of a World Cup victory is still the ultimate currency in football.
The PSG Paradox
People love to talk about Messi's time at Paris Saint-Germain as if it was a failure. It really wasn't. During the 2022-23 season, he put up 21 goals and 20 assists across all competitions for the French club. Those are elite numbers. But because PSG crashed out of the Champions League early (again), those stats felt empty to some.
If Argentina hadn't won that penalty shootout in Doha, Haaland would be the 2023 Ballon d'Or winner. Period. But they did win. And Messi was the reason.
Who Else Was in the Mix?
It’s easy to focus on the top two, but the 2023 rankings told a bigger story about where football is heading.
Kylian Mbappé came in third. Honestly, scoring a hat-trick in a World Cup final and losing has to be one of the most heartbreaking sports stories ever. He was the tournament's top scorer. He was arguably the best individual player on the planet for most of the year. But without the big trophies, he was always going to be the bridesmaid in this race.
Then you have Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri. Rodri, specifically, was the MVP of the Champions League final. He’s the guy who makes City tick. Seeing a defensive midfielder finish fifth was a huge win for people who actually watch the tactical side of the game. It’s rare for the "water carriers" to get that much love.
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- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami/PSG, Argentina)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
- Kylian Mbappé (PSG, France)
- Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)
- Rodri (Manchester City, Spain)
Vinícius Júnior also made the top ten, which was a big deal considering the season he had at Real Madrid, both on the pitch and dealing with some horrific stuff off it. He won the Socrates Award that night too, recognizing his humanitarian work in Brazil.
The Inter Miami Factor
By the time the award was handed out, Messi was already stateside. He’d moved to Inter Miami and basically turned MLS into a global spectacle overnight.
While his performances in the US didn't technically count for the bulk of the voting period, the "Messi Mania" certainly didn't hurt his case. It kept him in the headlines. It reminded everyone that even in his "retirement" league, he was still doing things that nobody else could.
That Leagues Cup run where he scored in every game? It just added to the aura. It made the 2023 Ballon d'Or feel like a lifetime achievement award mixed with a "thanks for the World Cup" present.
Is This the End of an Era?
This was likely the last time we see Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo on that stage. Ronaldo wasn't even nominated in 2023—the first time that happened since 2003. That’s twenty years of dominance finally winding down.
We are moving into the era of the "Big Three" 2.0: Haaland, Mbappé, and Jude Bellingham.
Bellingham won the Kopa Trophy for the best young player at the same ceremony. The way he’s started at Real Madrid suggests he’s going to be fighting for the top spot very soon. The 2023 ceremony felt like a goodbye to the old guard. A very sparkly, gold-plated goodbye.
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Why the Controversy Matters
Every year, people scream about the Ballon d'Or being a "popularity contest."
Is it? Sorta.
It’s a subjective award. There isn't a mathematical formula that says 1 goal = 10 points. If there were, Haaland would have walked away with it. But the award asks voters to look at "individual performances" and "decisive and impressive character."
Winning the World Cup is the most "decisive" thing a football player can do. Messi didn't just participate; he defined the tournament. That’s why he won. You might disagree, but in the eyes of the football establishment, international glory still trumps domestic dominance.
Misconceptions to Clear Up
- The MLS didn't win it for him. The voting was mostly based on his time at PSG and the World Cup.
- It wasn't a "pity" award. 41 goal contributions in 41 games for PSG is world-class, regardless of the Champions League exit.
- Haaland wasn't "robbed." He had a historic season, but he didn't score in the Champions League semi-finals or the final. Those big-game moments matter to voters.
What Happens Next
If you’re a football fan, the 2023 Ballon d'Or should be viewed as the closing of a chapter. We won't see another player like Messi for a long time. Eight trophies is a record that might actually never be broken.
For those looking to track the next generation, keep your eyes on the 2025 and 2026 seasons. The gap between the Premier League stars and the La Liga giants is narrowing.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors:
- Watch the Champions League Knockouts: This is where the 2026 Ballon d'Or will be won. Voters prioritize the "clutch" moments in April and May.
- Follow the International Tournaments: With the World Cup expanded format coming up, international pedigree is only getting more important for these awards.
- Value the Playmakers: If you're betting or following awards, don't just look at the Golden Boot winners. Look at the players who control the expected goals (xG) and transition play, like Bellingham or Rodri.
The 2023 ceremony was a celebration of a career that defied logic. Whether you think Haaland deserved it or Messi was the rightful king, you can't deny that seeing that eighth trophy in his hands felt like the only way that story could truly end. It was the perfect epilogue for a player who has given the sport everything.