Lionel Messi could really become the first MLS player to win the Ballon d’Or award adding to his already existing record as the player with the highest number of the award.
Lionel Messi just like in 2021 when he shocked the world with a move to PSG has done the same now but to MLS Franchise Inter Miami.
The former Barcelona attacker’s future had been up in the air, with the likes of his former club, FC Barcelona, and Saudi side Al-Hilal wanting to land the World Cup winner.
Lionel Messi, 35, leaves Europe for the first time in his successful career, where he won a combined 43 trophies during his 17 years at Camp Nou and his couple of seasons at PSG.
Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or as the world’s best player for a record seventh time in 2021, putting him two ahead of his rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
And now the Argentine legend is on his way to winning it the eight-time and being the first MLS player to win the Ballon d’Or.
Well, before Messi agreed to join MLS side Inter Miami, a player from the league was unlikely to win the Ballon d’Or due to a variety of factors.
Ballon d’Or is awarded annually by France Football magazine to the best male football player in the world, as voted by a panel of international journalists.
In 1995, the Ballon d’Or award was expanded to include all players of any origin that have been active at European clubs.
Coaches and captains of national teams were also given the right to vote after 2007 and the award became a global prize with all professional footballers from around the world being eligible.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés Messi was born on 24th June 1987 and he is an Argentine footballer who last played as a forward for PSG and captains the Argentina national team.
Messi is globally regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Messi has won a record seven Ballon d’Or awards and a record six European Golden Shoes.
At the club level, he has won a record 34 trophies in both Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
With his country, Messi won the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
A prolific goalscorer and creative playmaker, Lionel Messi holds the records for most goals in La Liga (474), most hat-tricks in La Liga (36) and the UEFA Champions League (eight), and most assists in La Liga (192) and the Copa América (17).
He also has the most international goals by a South American male (99). Messi has scored over 800 senior career goals for club and country and has the most goals by a player for a single club (672).
Who will win the Ballon d’Or in 2023?
Lionel Messi after missing out of the 2022 Ballon d’Or, he is now back on the list and is also tipped as the favorite to win the award.
The Argentine ended 2022 on a high as he led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup victory in Qatar and brought back the trophy.
Winning the world cup gives Lionel Messi a significant chance of winning the 2023 Ballon d’Or ahead of other players that have been outstanding as well.
Futballnews brings you the latest Ballon d’Or winner odds, it’s going to be hotly contested.
| Player | Odds | Probability |
| Lionel Messi | 1/2 | 66.67% |
| Erling Haaland | 3/2 | 40.00% |
| Kevin De Bruyne | 25/1 | 3.85% |
| Vinicius Junior | 33/1 | 2.94% |
| Karim Benzema | 50/1 | 1.96% |
| Kylian Mbappe | 50/1 | 1.96% |
| Harry Kane | 250/1 | 0.40% |
| Mohamed Salah | 250/1 | 0.40% |
| Bruno Fernandes | 250/1 | 0.40% |
| Neymar | 500/1 | 0.20% |
| Sadio Mane | 500/1 | 0.20% |
| Phil Foden | 500/1 | 0.20% |
